The bass thumped through the house like a heartbeat with a death wish, bodies packed wall to wall in every dimly lit room. This wasn’t her scene—not even close.

And yet…

She was here.

In a borrowed leather jacket over her too-neat blouse, sipping god knows what out of a red cup and trying her best to pretend she belonged. She didn’t. But she didn’t seem to care.

Kai watched her from across the kitchen, nursing a beer he’d barely touched. Michael was laughing with Damon over something brutal, and Will had already disappeared upstairs with someone. But Kai wasn’t moving. Couldn’t.

Because she was laughing.

At something he said.

She stumbled toward him, cheeks flushed, hair coming loose from the tight twist it had started in. She looked alive in a way she never did behind a podium or in the front of the classroom with her clipboard and that impossible posture.

“You,” she said, pointing a finger at him, eyes glassy and gorgeous, “are very smug.”

Kai blinked. “And you’re very drunk.”

She giggled. “I’m not that drunk.”

He gave her a look.

“Okay, maybe a little,” she admitted. “But only because you said I should loosen up. This is what you wanted, right?”

Kai set his drink down slowly. “That’s not what I—”

“You always look at me like you know everything.” Her voice dropped, softer now, intimate. “Like you’re two seconds from saying something that’ll ruin me.”

Kai’s jaw tensed. “You should sit down.”

“I should kiss you.”

He froze.

She leaned in—far too close, and Kai’s entire body went taut. “I’ve wanted to. Since October. Maybe longer.” She laughed, breath warm against his throat. “You’re always in my head. And I hate it.”

He closed his eyes. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“I’m thinking finally, actually.”

“You’re drunk,” he said, low, strained.

“I’m honest,” she whispered, hand curling into the front of his shirt. “And I like you, Kai Mori. I really like you. And it’s annoying.”

Kai swallowed hard, eyes locked on hers, pulse thundering. He wanted to say something. Anything. But if he opened his mouth, he might not stop.

So instead, he caught her wrist gently and whispered, “Come on. I’ll get you some water.”

As he guided her upstairs, she leaned against his side, sighing like the whole world had melted off her shoulders.

And Kai? He said nothing.

Because if he did, he’d tell her how long he’d waited to hear those words—and how much more he wanted.