Chapter 13
DIANA
People scatter and part for me the second they hear my heels striking the gym floor.
Their whispers rise like chirping cicadas.
“Why is she here?”
“Do you think she wears those heels during a workout?”
The smell of deodorant, rubber, and metal smothers the muggy air. I wriggle the collar of my slouchy knit turtleneck, feeling flush under the heat clinging to my jeans and rising up my neck.
I know Kai will be here because sports reporters on the Howler are always fighting to interview the Griffins at the gym on Fridays. Their late practice time means they can work out here, and reporters can grab a quick interview with them without having to wake up at the crack of dawn.
My ponytail swishes behind my neck as I look for Kai among the horde of players getting in shape for the first game. I scratch at my brow.
Has he finished working out already?
Suddenly, a laugh breaks out from the weights area.
Deep, warm, and utterly at ease. I dart around, my heart fluttering.
Even with his back turned, I know it’s him.
Kai sweeps a hand through his black hair, his biceps flexing with strong, defined muscle that clings to his sleeveless compression shirt.
I gulp. Why did I think it was a good idea to confront him at the gym?
The boys talking to Kai begin to draw away. “Alright, see you later, man.”
“Later, guys.” Kai pats one of them on the back, turning around to smile and wave them off. His dark green eyes find mine. My stomach churns when his smile falls.
“Diana.”
I fidget under the weight of his gaze. “Hi.”
Kai cocks a brow, as he approaches the weights. “Did you come here to do a bench press?”
“No, I came here to…”
My words twist and catch in my throat as Kai begins lifting the barbell weight. His jawline sharpens, becoming as stark as his forearm veins.
I clear my throat. “Can you, um. . .can you please stop what you’re doing for a minute?”
“Can’t.” Kai breathes out. “The Vipers are one hell of a team. Gotta stay sharp and focused. Every moment counts.”
He stares ahead with unflinching focus. I can see the sheer strength powering Kai’s muscles after every curl.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Kai, please. This is important.”
“Then talk.” Sweat beads across his smirking lips. “I can multitask.”
My face burns. I snap my eyes down, trying to keep my wits together. “Well, I-I, um…I came here because I would…I would like your help…on the project.”
Kai theatrically furrows his brows. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
I sharply exhale. “I want…your help.”
“The acoustics here are just horrible. You’ll have to—”
“I want your help!” I snap.
Finally, Kai looks over at me and drops down the barbell weight. He smiles before he props his wrist against the steel handle above him. “So, you finally caved in, huh?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Five days later.”
“Why do I get the feeling you waited one more day just so you could prove me wrong?”
“I did not. You’re overthinking this.”
“Your cheeks say differently, princess.” Kai brushes past me to reach for his duffel bag.
I whirl around and catch my reflection in the mirror when I do. My cheeks are flush and suspiciously pink against my fingers.
I huff. “Don’t call me princess.” I trek after him, my feet aching in my heels to keep up with his long strides. “Kai, this project is our midterm. It’s worth twenty-five percent of our grade. Can you please just cooperate?”
Kai laughs. “No.”
“No?”
“No.” Kai zips up his duffel bag and hikes the strap onto his shoulder. His smile is gone, and the glare in his eyes is scathing. “If you want me to help you, I won’t be treated like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a fucking puppet.” Kai stands so close; I can hear the angry rasp in his voice, “I’m not part of your entourage, Diana. You can’t just command me to do something when it’s convenient for you.”
Guilt swallows me up. Before I came in here, I didn’t even consider how all of this looked like to him because I’m so used to wanting something and having it delivered to me without question.
“I-I’m…I should’ve—” I grasp for the right words. But nothing gives shape to the emotions swirling inside of me.
Kai coaxes me on, “You should’ve what…Diana?”
I gulp. His eyes draw to my throat. The heavy guilt I feel crumbles under the shameful flare of desire igniting under my skin as Kai’s gaze darkens on me.
I should step away and apologize, say something—anything—to break what lies between us now.
But my lips part, still struggling to find the words to respond.
They’re tangled with filthy fantasies of Kai pinning me against this wall and taking all of his anger, his frustrations, out on me until I’m slick with sweat and cu—
“Yo!”
We break away. The mundane lighting springs down on us. I blink, panic thrumming inside of me.
What the hell just happened?
Across from us, Luke King hollers, “Practice starts soon! We gotta go!”
I look back at Kai, my thoughts still spinning. The words struggle to surface, but I doubt Kai will hear me through the anger and confusion warring across his face. His brows furrow, his lips part and close.
I think Kai is about to say something. Then he simply sighs, shakes his head, and walks away.