24
LUCIEN
It was a boys' night out. A softer term for Rohit's bachelor party. With both cultures merging, there were no rules to follow, no right or wrong when it came to customs and traditions. So tonight was simply a boys' night out. And since Rohit was about to become my brother-in-law, I had to be there. Even if it meant being surrounded by Kai and his insufferable friends.
I'm new to this. I don't particularly enjoy parties. I have one good friend in life, and I focus on my career and Selena. I find parties pointless. But I wanted to support her. To become part of the family. If this was the way to do it, so be it.
The bar was crowded. Neon lights flickered across the walls, bathing the room in red and blue. Music blasted through heavy speakers, the bass vibrating through the floorboards. The smell of alcohol, sweat, and cheap cologne hung thick in the air. A small dance floor held a cluster of drunk dancers moving without rhythm, laughing too loudly. Two bartenders worked behind the bar. The woman leaned across the counter, flirting with a man in a cowboy hat, while the male bartender poured shots into a row of glasses.
I spotted Rohit lifting his hand above the crowd, motioning me over.
I saw Kai and his friends gathered around a tall table. Kai was already visibly drunk, shirt sleeves rolled up, hair disheveled, eyes slightly glassy. His friends looked much the same. I'd arrived on time, but they'd clearly been here much earlier.
They weren't thrilled to see me. The feeling was mutual. The only tolerable one was Rohit. I didn't need the rest of their approval anyway.
"Ah, look who it is! Mr. Bigshot!" Mike slurred loudly, raising his glass before taking another long sip. "You stole my guy's love!"
I didn't say a word. I simply stared at him for a moment, slowly looking him up and down, keeping my temper in check. I approached Rohit instead.
He looked relieved to see me. He was the only one not drinking, just a glass of orange juice in his hand. His shoulders were slightly tense, like he'd been enduring the night rather than enjoying it. I found Rohit to be the opposite of these men. Calm. Kind. Grounded. I didn't understand how he was friends with them.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked.
He shrugged, offering a tired smile. "I should have just hosted a dinner instead." His eyes drifted toward his loud friends, and he sighed quietly. He was clearly fed up.
"Do you want to play a game of pool?" I nodded toward the tables in the back. No one was including him, and it was supposed to be his night.
His eyes lit up instantly. "Sure. But I won't go easy on you just because you're my brother-in-law."
I laughed. "It's on."
We started walking toward the pool tables when a heavy hand grabbed my shoulder.
Mike. His grip tightened. "Selena is supposed to end up with Kai, not you! They're destined to be together!"
My jaw clenched.
I knew I was dying. I knew I wanted Selena to end up with Kai if that was her happily ever after. But hearing people say they were meant to be together? It hurt. It annoyed me. Frustrated me. Made me jealous.
What did they see that I didn't? I felt Selena was madly in love with me, and I with her. But hearing from nearly everyone that Kai was her true love cut deeper than it should. What did they have that we didn't? What did people see in them that they didn't see in us?
Slowly, I lifted my hand and pushed his off my shoulder.
"Back off, man." Rohit stepped in immediately, placing himself slightly between us.
"But you know it's true, Ro." Mike pointed at him clumsily. "You know even you felt Kai and Selena would end up together."
Rohit's eyes dropped to the floor.
And I knew. He'd felt it too.
"But they couldn't come back together because of this rich snob!" Mike slurred, swaying as he tried to stand straight.
I stepped forward, anger burning behind my eyes. "You should listen to Rohit and back off." My voice was low. Controlled.
Kai got off his bar stool and walked over slowly, dark circles under his eyes, a tired look on his face. "What's going on?"
"Your friend is drunk and causing a scene."
"I'm telling this idiot how Selena will always be yours!" Mike slurred loudly.
Kai said nothing. The silence stretched.
"Well," I said coolly, "Sorry to disappoint you, but she did marry me."
Mike burst out laughing. The rest of Kai's friends drifted closer, forming a loose circle around us.
"She only married you because Kai left her for Jade." Mike jabbed a finger toward my chest. "Do you think you stood a chance otherwise?"
Kai shifted beside us but stayed silent.
"Kai and Jade split because he realized how much he loved her. Made a mistake."
"And she left him for an older man!" one of the guys snorted.
"Shut up, man!" Mike snapped at them, nearly losing his balance. "My point is," he continued, glaring at me, "You're a rebound. Until she finds her way back to Kai."
My heart started racing. Rage burned through my chest.
Before I could stop myself, my fist slammed into Mike's face.
The crack echoed over the music.
He dropped to the floor instantly. I stepped forward, ready to hit him again, but strong hands grabbed me from behind.
"Stop! Stop! He's not worth it!" Kai shouted. Kai and Rohit held me back.
Mike staggered to his feet, blood running from his lip, and lunged toward me.
Kai punched him. Hard.
Mike collapsed again. This time he didn't get up.
Kai and I got kicked out.
The cold night air hit my face as the bar door slammed behind us. We stood on the sidewalk for a moment, then wandered toward a nearby rooftop. The city lights stretched out below us.
We looked at each other. The corner of his mouth twitched. Then we both burst out laughing, hysterical laughter, like two kids who'd just been thrown out of school. Selena's husband and her ex, laughing on a rooftop because they'd both been kicked out of a bar together.
I leaned over the railing, watching the headlights move through the streets below.
"Don't worry about Mike," Kai said, rubbing the back of his neck. "He gets that way when he's drunk."
I gave a small half-smile.
"For what it's worth, you're not Selena's rebound."
"But you certainly are a hotshot snob." That stupid smirk returned.
"You compliment me and insult me at the same time. Talent."
He laughed. "I try."
He leaned beside me against the railing, still holding a beer. I had no idea how he'd managed to grab it while getting thrown out. He took a slow sip. His expression turned sad.
"Selena would never marry a man she didn't love. Rebounding was never her thing. If she chose you, it's because she loves you."
I nodded. "I don't doubt her love."
But in my mind, doubt crept in. Was I a fraud? Did she really love me as much as she loved Kai? Did it even matter?
I felt her love. I knew it. So why did the world insist that she belonged to him?
I was dying. I wouldn't be here for her next chapter. So if he was her true love, I should be happy.
Then why was I devastated?
It was just a title. But it was a title the world gave Kai. Her true love. And me? I got the greatest title of all. Her husband.
Was I selfish to want both? To be her true love and her husband?
"She deserves only the best," Kai said quietly, leaning against the wall.
"And you couldn't be that for her?" I asked.
He sighed deeply. "I was an idiot. An asshole to her. I was young. I thought love was fun. Intensity." He looked down at the street below. "I didn't know that love was sitting by the fireplace with your girl and making stupid jokes. I thought love shouldn't feel easy." He gave a sad laugh. "Because it was so easy to be with her."
"She was my best friend. I took her for granted. Thought she'd always be there." He rubbed his face. "Until one day I woke up and she wasn't. And slowly, slowly, I realized what a big, dark hole my life became without her."
He looked at me. I spoke "When I found her, I wanted to find you and kick your ass." I paused. "But in a selfish way, I was also grateful. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have found her."
I laughed quietly. "I pitied you. Losing a gem like her is enough for anyone to lose their mind."
"She barely talks about her past with you."
His eyes filled with pain. He closed them for a moment, like he was reliving something he wished he could forget.
"I want to know, Kai," I said quietly. "Man to man."
He looked at me.
"Do you really regret losing her? If you had a second chance, would you hurt her again? Or are you finally a man who could treasure her and keep her happy?"
He looked confused for a moment, then his expression steadied.
"If I had a second chance with her," he said slowly, "I would hold her close forever and never let her go. I'd keep her safe. I'd fight for her." He paused. "But I don't get a second chance." He looked at me. "You're lucky. You get to be her husband. I get to live with a lifetime of pain for hurting her. That's my destiny."
He paused again, then gave a small, bitter smile. "And I want to hate you. I really do. I'm jealous of everything you are to her that I wasn't." He exhaled. "You're one lucky bastard, Lucien. Destiny really likes you."
"I'm not lucky enough," I said quietly.
I looked down at the streetlights below.
"Destiny actually favors you, Kai. I think this ends with you getting my wife. I think it ends with you getting the happy ending."
He looked confused.
Before he could speak, I looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm dying, Kai."