His lips brush mine. Soft at first, hesitant. He’s feeling me out, giving me a chance to end this before it goes any further. But I don’t want to.
It might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but I put my hands on his chest and press in deeper. This time when he groans, it isn’t about my food.
It’s about me.
Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit. I can’t let this happen. I can’t do this to him, no matter how much he thinks he wants it. Right now, maybe he does. But in a couple of months, when I’m back in Italy, and he’s here? He’ll regret this.
Won’t he?
Won’t I?
I break away, raising my hand to my mouth. His eyes look wild, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as if that’s the only way he can stop from touching me again.
I take a step back. And then another. “I should go.”
I whirl around, grabbing my bags and heading for the door as quickly as I can. I can’t look back at him. Can’t see his expression, no matter what it might be.
It’s only when I reach his lobby that I realize I don’t have a way of getting home, seeing as he picked me up this morning. I quickly order an Uber but arrange for it to pick me up down the street. The last thing I need is him deciding to come after me and finding me here waiting for a ride.
No. Right now, I need some space from him.
Space to figure out exactly what Kai Yamaki kissing me might mean.
And whether I’m going to let him do it again.
Chapter fourteen
Kai
“You keep starin’ at your phone like it’s gonna sprout wings and fly away.” Darling’s drawl reaches me from the row of seats behind me. I turn in my seat and see him leaning over the back of the one next to me, a wry grin on his face. “Who are you waitin’ to hear from?”
“No one.” I turn forward again, my hand tightening around my phone. I won’t pick it up again while he’s watching.
But he’s a persistent asshole sometimes. Next thing I know, my supposed best friend on the team is sliding into the empty seat next to me, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at me.
“Spill, Yami. You’ve been different for weeks now. Ever since Isabelle showed up.”
“Keep your voice down,” I snap, looking around wildly to see who else heard him say her name. But it’s late and the team is tired enough that most of the guys are passed out as the teambus takes us from northeast Washington into Idaho for our next set of games. Coach is up front, thankfully far enough that he couldn’t have heard Darling.
“What the hell’s goin’ on, brother?”
I let my head fall back against the seat with a thunk.
“Are we grilling Yami on why he’s been MIA the last few weeks? I mean, I know I’ve been busy with Lark and Stella and all, but it’s still weird you haven’t wanted to go out. You even skipped the last couple of donut runs. What gives?”
Great, now Monty’s in on it. The catcher leans over the back of the seat in front of us, resting his chin on his hands as he looks at me expectantly.
“Seriously? Nothing’s going on, you’re all busy with your women. That’s what’s changed. Not me.”
Lies, lies, lies. They taste like dirt coming off my tongue.
“Bullshit.”
Darling’s tone leaves no room for argument, but my hackles go up, nonetheless.
“Bullshit? Nah, man. Bullshit was you making moves on my sister and not telling me.”
“Woah, easy there, boys.” Monty sticks his hands out at each of us. “Don’t say shit you can’t take back.”
