clue if the people that are still here are his friends or a new group that has taken over the table, but I figure it doesn’t hurt to ask, so I lean toward the two guys closest to me.
“Have you seen Kai?” I ask. “Or Max?” I add to increase the odds of getting an answer out of them.
“I think Max went to the bathroom,” one of the men says.
I nod my thanks and make my way to the back of the bar. The bathrooms are hidden in a side corridor, and the music is much quieter once I get away from the main area of the bar.
I see them almost immediately. Kai’s back is against the wall, and Max is standing in front of him. It’s not like I’ve walked in on them going at it against the bathroom wall. It looks like they’re just talking, but the effect this scene is having on me is profound because it’s rapidly becoming undeniable that this jealousy inside me is the furthest thing from platonic. The confused jealousy has turned to angry jealousy, and I’m getting a whole new perspective on the troubles Hulk faces with his anger issues. The mix of emotions inside me feels too big to control, and I wouldn’t put rage incarnation past me at this point.
I should walk away, but when Max’s palm slides from Kai’s side to his hip, that idea dies a swift death. Instead, I cough loudly and watch with grim satisfaction as their heads snap toward me.
“Sorry,” I push through clenched teeth. “Did I interrupt?”
I don’t think Max will be my biggest fan after this. Cock block me once and all that.
“Kind of,” Max says, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at me, proving my suspicions.
I don’t pay any attention to him, though, and neither does Kai because he’s too busy watching me.
He lifts one eyebrow. “Strike out?” he asks, motioning toward the general direction of the bar.
“You obviously didn’t,” I reply.
Kai’s jaw clenches. “Was there something you needed?”
And then, he swallows and takes a very deliberate step toward Max. He looks me straight in the eye the whole time, and that takes the wind out of my sails like nobody’s business.
All over-the-top, unfamiliar, crazy emotions disappear as if a balloon has been popped, and the only thing left is a huge, aching void.
This is what Kai wants. My eyes fall on where Kai’s shoulder has met Max’s. This is who Kai wants, and I’m standing here with my messy emotions, not even sure what is happening to me. No wonder Kai isn’t jumping at the chance to kick Max to the curb. Why would he? And for what? It’s not like I’m really offering anything here.
This is why you should have a plan, damnit! I marched in here, thinking the solutions to everything would present themselves to me as I went along with things. It doesn’t work like this.
I look away. Seeing Kai and Max together like this is not the type of torture I’d willingly submit myself to.
“Sorry,” I say, trying my best to avoid looking at them.
“Carry on,” I add. It’s a joke, right? I can be light-hearted and fun, too.
I try for a smile and pull off an unnatural smirk. It’s high time I went home. This whole evening has been nothing but one fucked-up moment after another. Hell, my whole week has been like that. I should have stayed in the office. At least there things make sense, and that’s ultimately my lot in life. Boring and sensible.
The bar is even more crowded than before as I push my way outside. The night air is cool, and for the first time since stepping foot in that bar, I feel like I can breathe.
Home is a good five miles away, but I need the walk to clear my head. Maybe then Kai and I can talk tomorrow, and I’ll be able to articulate why everything feels off between us.
Only I don’t get a chance to do that.
“Gray.”
My feet stop immediately. I take a moment before I turn around.
Kai is jogging toward me. The distance between us is decreasing too quickly, and then he’s right in front of me.
I peer past him.
“No Max?” I ask.
He gives a derisive snort of laughter and takes another step closer.
“What the hell was that?” he demands.
“What the hell was what?”
“That fucking thing you did back there. What the hell was that about? Why even come to that hallway? What was the