Page 18 of Until We Burn
The words catch in my throat.
Kai is already ridiculously handsome in sweats and a hoodie. But seeing him in a suit unhinges all of my good sense. I shouldn’t want to feel the expanse of his shoulders beneath his blazer. I shouldn’t want to trail my finger down the sliver of skin behind his unbuttoned collar. I shouldn’t want him during one of the most important, pivotal moments of my life.
The white stone digs into my hand.
The game board is not the only thing Kai is taking over, and I hate it so much.
I slammy stone down.
“Pardon me if I’m a little frazzled.” I clear my throat, avoiding Kai’s gaze with all my might. “I wasn’t planning on playing a round of Go at the partnership dinner.”
“I wasn’t either, but I’m still kicking your ass,” he quips back.
My nostrils flare. “Stay out of my head and just play the game.”
“Isn’t that how you win most games, though? You get into your opponent’s head?”
This time, I can’t help looking up at him. My guard rises at Kai’s inquisitive, prodding stare.
“Why do I feel like you’re trying to get into my head for reasons beyond this game?”
Kai falters. His smirk fades. He swallows hard and looks down at his hands that restlessly rub together.
“I keep thinking about what happened on Monday?—”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
The words dart out like a whip. I regret saying them the second the hurt and confusion lashes across Kai’s face.
“Are you sure there’s nothing to talk about?” he asks.
I fidget against the invisible vise twining my body, forcing me to confront the girl I shouldn’t have been on that Monday morning.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I insist.
“We’re going to be in the same class for the next four months. I don’t want there to be problems between us. So, if there’s something I said or did that made you uncomfortable, I want you to know that it’s okay to talk it out with me.”
“I just had another class to get to. That’s all. I have more important matters to attend to than mull over what happened with you four days ago.”
Kai flinches. He looks back at the board and nods simply, his jaw tensing at the effort. “Alright, then.”
I shake my head. “No, Kai. That…that wasn’t?—”
“Ahem.”
I snap upright.
Sophia stands outside the gazebo with her arms crossed. I shoot to my feet, knocking into the chair leg.
“S-Sophia! What’s the matter?”
She looks at Kai, her gaze curious and scrutinizing. The creeping panic I felt before overwhelms me now, as I try to think of something—anything—to take her attention off him.
But before I can cut in, Sophia flits her icy gaze back to me.
“Come back inside. The speeches are starting.”
“I would liketo begin by welcoming our partners to our home. It’s been a splendid evening getting to know you all, and I hope we’ll have many of these gatherings in the future.”
