Page 36 of Only When We Fall

I shake my head. “It’s fine.”

“Emmie, you can’t walk across campus alone in just my shirt.”

“What did he say?” I ask suddenly, and his eyes snap to mine. “For you to punch him.”

He places his mug in the sink and keeps his back to me for a minute. “It doesn’t matter.”

I frown. “Just tell me, Kai. You’re asking me to believe you, so tell me everything.”

He turns, closing the gap between us and gently brushing his thumb over my lower lip. His eyes linger there for just a second too long, like he’s debating if he should kiss me or not. The worst thing is, I wait, staring back, daring him to. But then his hand drops back to his side, and he reaches past me to grab hisjacket. He places it over my shoulders. “I promised myself I’d never hurt you again, Em, so this is me keeping that promise. It doesn’t matter what he said, just know he deserved it.” And then he passes me and heads for the door.

We walk the short journey across campus in silence. At least we usually speak, even if it’s me being a bitch and throwing his attempts in his face.

I twist my fingers together and risk a side glance at him. He’s staring straight ahead; his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I loved the flowers,” I eventually say. “Thank you.” He gives a stiff nod in response, not even looking my way. “I haven’t dried any in such a long time,” I add, with a nervous laugh. The silence is killing me. “There were so many in the countryside too, but I just didn’t feel . . .” I trail off, sighing heavily. “I’ll talk to Landon. Have him back off. He’s just being protective over me,” I say. This time, Kai scoffs, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “We’re not a thing,” I tell him, suddenly desperate for him to know the truth. “He likes me, but Zara made rules, and we can’t get together whilst we live together.” I wince at how the words all sound wrong.

He slows to a stop, turning to me. “But if she hadn’t made rules, you’d give him a chance?”

I think over his words, the seconds dragging out. It only pisses him off more because he rolls his eyes again. “Forget it, Emmie. But do me a favour, at least ask him what he’s really interested in before you make a fool of yourself.” He starts to back away,“Again.”And then he turns on his heel and heads back to his place.

I stare after him open mouthed. And then tears prickle my eyes and I clench my fists until my nails dig into my palms. It was a low blow, and he knows it. But I’m done crying over him. He’s wrong about Landon, he’s only ever showed me kindness, which is more than I can say for Kai.

I head back to the house, vowing that this time, I’ll be stronger.

The club is already packed when we push through the doors, the bass vibrating through the floor and straight into my bones. Zara grabs my hand with a squeal. “Drinks first, then the dance floor!” she shouts, not waiting for a reply before dragging me toward the bar. Landon trails behind, his hands shoved in his pockets, wearing the same faintly amused expression he always has.

I wasn’t going to come out tonight, it’s the last thing I wanted to do. But Zara insisted I needed to drag myself along just to show Kai I’m over him. It felt like a good idea at the time, but now I’m here, in Zara’s tight fitted mini skirt and a cropped top that shows off way more than I’d usually reveal, I’m regretting it.

We squeeze our way to the front. Zara orders a round of shots for the three of us, already leaning across the bar to flirt with the guy serving. Landon stands beside me, calm and quiet in a way that feels almost deliberate. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. There’s nothing cocky about him. He’s not loud. He doesn’t scan the room like he owns it. Unlike Kai.

I shove that thought down with the first shot.

Two shots in and Zara’s already clocked a guy she likes the look of. She downs her third, fluffs up her curls, and beams at us. “Be back soon, but if I’m not, assume I’ve run off to marry him.” And then she’s gone, vanishing into the crowd like glitter on a breeze.

I blink after her. “Well.”

Landon gives a soft laugh. “That was quick.”

Now it’s just us. The noise, the lights, the sweat in the air, and him. He looks at me, steady and easy. “Wanna dance?”

I hesitate, then nod. “Only if you promise not to laugh at how bad I am.”

He grins. “You haven’t seenmymoves yet.”

We step onto the dance floor, and I try to lose myself in the moment. But my brain’s a traitor. It remembers a different night, a different boy. How Kai's hand fit at the small of my back,how he grinned, as if I were the only person who existed. Landon doesn’t touch me like that. He’s careful. Polite.

And for some stupid reason, that almost makes me like him more.

We’re dancing, if you can call it that. Mostly moving to the beat, laughing when one of us missteps or the crowd knocks into us. Landon isn’t a great dancer, but at least he’s not pretending to be. He throws in this awkward little shoulder shimmy that makes me snort.

“You’re actually worse than me,” I shout over the music.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he says, grinning. “I told you, no promises.”

He spins around dramatically and almost knocks into someone. I laugh again, looser now, the shots kicking in. The music shifts, the tempo slowing just enough to make me pause.

Then suddenly, Landon’s close. Nottooclose, but his hand brushes mine and his expression softens, just a little. “You okay?” he asks, voice low despite the noise.

And I don’t know why that makes my chest tighten. Maybe because no one’s asked me that in a while and actuallymeantit.

---