Page 20 of Until We Burn
“It’s too bad we’re not at a hockey rink,” Jonathan chimes in. He chortles against his wine glass. “You’d be so useful if we were.”
“Please.”Gregory scoffs. “Anyone can be useful if they have some…help.”
Kai’s chest starts to rise and fall a little too rapidly, his throat bobbing uncomfortably.
Out of the people they’d use to attack me, I didn’t think Kai would be one of them.
My fingers curl into my napkin. “The only person who needs help is you, Gregory. Behave yourself and let Mr. Maison-Maiau enjoy his meal.”
Gregory scowls at me. “You’re?—”
“Enough.”
Our heads snap towards the end of the table.
Bàba glares at us. “We have guests. Keep your petty squabbles to yourself.”
I lower my head. Gregory begrudgingly obeys with his hands fisting at his sides.
A stiff, awkward air suffocates the table, but it doesn’t crack bàba’s charm in the slightest.
“I apologize about my son.” Bàba gestures for wine and fills up a glass for Kai. “What’s your name again?”
Kai swallows hard. “Kai Mason-Maiau, sir.”
Bàba angles his head. Kai looks back despite how much his hands are shaking. I watch the exchange with my breath growing taut. As charming as bàba can be, I know he wouldn’t hesitate to tear Kai apart if he ever made one wrong move against him.
But tonight, bàba simply smiles.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Mason-Maiau.”
The tensionfrom the dinner table keeps a tight grip on me even when the plates are cleared away and the dinner party moves outside.
I thread past the dancing guests in the backyard, trying to find Kai through it all. He bolted the second dinner was over that I’m convinced he already left the party.
Then a familiar shiver draws down my spine, turning my head towards the fountain.
Kai dances with a very drunk Anya Desai. I try to stay as cordial as possible when I come between them.
“Oh, yes, of course!” Anya giggles. “You kids enjoy!”
Kai is rigid when his arm winds around my waist.
“I’m so sorry about my family,” I whisper.
He avoids eye contact. The only ounce of acknowledgement comes from his hand slightly tightening on mine as we dance together. “There’s no point in apologizing if you see me the same way they do.”
“I don’t see you that way, Kai.”
“I just don’t understand why you’re nice to me one moment, and the next, you push me away.”
“I have reasons for doing things that have nothing to do with you.”
The plea in my voice finally draws his attention back down to me. Kai sighs, slightly annoyed now.
“I know you heard the rumors. Everyone has, and you can see me however you want. But don’t act like you’re any different from your family.”
“Don’t act as if you know me because you don’t,” I seethe.
