Chapter 3 : Welcome home, Kai

***Dylanne

“We were just heading out,” Rhys beat me to it. “I was about to drop Dylanne off.”

I caught the slight alarm in his eyes before he shook his head and cleared his throat.

“I can take her home,” Kai said firmly.

“Yeah, but I'd rather do it. Besides, my hotel is close already, and you can't just leave Kim here.”

“No, you can stay with her.” He pulled my bag from Rhys, who oddly stood calm. “I have something to tell Dylly.”

“Okay then.” Rhys paused and then looked at me. “I had a great time today, Dylanne. I'm hoping we can have more, maybe over lunch?”

“Y-yeah.” Shit. “Yes, sure. I had a great time today too.”

I scurried out of there, my head low. That was so weird, standing between Kai and the guy I'm pretty sure likes me.

Soon enough, Kai walked out. We both took the elevator down and headed straight to his car.

“Dyl!” He called after me, but I kept moving, my steps faster by the second. “Dylly!”

I couldn't even look at him properly.

“Dylly!” He caught up with me and pulled me by the hand roughly. “What the fuck was that in there? Letting Rhys hold you like you two are dating or something?”

“What? Is that really what you're going to ask me after leaving your own party?”

That was fucking rude. How dare he boss me around like that?

“That's not important.”

“Not important?” Why the fuck am I even standing here?

“I need to go home. Are you dropping me off or not?”

Didn't wait for him to say a word and walked toward the car.

—------------------------------------------------------

As soon as we got down, I opened the door and got out. I'm not wasting my time on a man who thinks he can boss me around.

“Dylly,” he called after me. Kai got out, just in time to reach me at the door.

“You forgot your bag,” he said, offering it. I was so angry I didn't freaking think about it.

I wrenched it away from him, fumbling inside for my keys.

“Can we talk, please?”

I can't afford to look at his beautiful face right now. If I do, I'd make a decision I don't want.

“No.” A flat-out no. Perfect.

“Dylly, come on, it's me.”

That's what makes it even more difficult.

“And?” I asked, twisting the keys in the keyhole.

“And I want us to talk, like adults.”

“You're the one who thinks he can boss me around and decide who I let touch me.”

He paused, and this time I turned.

“You want him to touch you?”

“I didn't say t-that,” I stammered. He got closer, his fingers grazing my skin.

“Then? You love it when Rhys touches you, huh? Tell me you weren't under my bed, touching yourself.”

My eyes darted around to see if anyone heard. We were outside, and I had my best friend's brother close to me, hovering over me like he owned me.

“I-I—”

“Suddenly, you can't speak, huh?” His tongue darted out over his lips as he licked them, and I tried my very fucking best not to gasp.

“You act like you wanted his touch or something. Fuck no, you don't. Not while I'm here. Not when I'm back.”

When he's back? What does that even mean? He was the one who left me five fucking years ago, and now he comes back and thinks he can slide back into my life?

Like I don't get to feel hurt?

His hand captures my chin, tugging a little so that our eyes meet. For a minute, I get lost in them—his grayish orbs, the same eyes I loved looking at, the ones that somehow assured me on the days I thought I couldn't go on anymore.

Sure, I wished he was mine. But not when he acted like an absolute jerk.

I pushed his hands down and, with the almost wrecked confidence I had left, pushed through my door.

“It was a nice party. Welcome home, Kai,” I said, shutting the door in his face.