Frustration flared brighter in his eyes, turning to something deeper, more desperate. "You think this is just about loyalty to the band?" he asked, his voice rising.
"What else would it be?" I challenged, my own anger mirroring his.
He dragged both hands through his hair, stopping his pacing abruptly, turning back to me with emotions crackling just under his skin, regret, anger, something raw and unguarded. "You want honesty?" he said, voice rough and breaking. "Fine. I didn't plan to fall for you."
The words sucked the air from the room. My stomach dropped, a cold wave crashing over me.
"What?" I whispered, barely audible.
"I didn't plan it," he repeated, louder, frustration spilling through every syllable like a dam breaking. "I didn't want it. You were Cal's wife. Pregnant. Off-limits in every way imaginable."
My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out everything else. "Kei..."
"You came into this house broken but fighting," he continued, his words tumbling faster now, like he couldn't stop them. "You listened when I talked about my sister, about responsibility, about what Mexico really did to us. You saw me as more than the guy who cleans up Cal's messes."
My throat tightened painfully, a mix of shock and denial twisting inside me. "That wasn't"
"I know it wasn't intentional!" he snapped, his voice cracking with emotion. "That's the problem. You were just being you.... strong, kind, defending Cal even when he didn't deserve it. I started looking forward to your messages, your stories about Eli's circuits. It snuck up on me."
I stepped back slightly, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. "You're confused," I said quietly, but my voice wavered.
"No," he said, shaking his head fiercely. "I'm fucked up. There's a difference."
"Kei, stop." Panic edged in now, my mind reeling.
"I tried to ignore it," he pressed on, stepping closer, his eyes locked on mine with desperate intensity. "Told myself it was protectiveness. Friendship. But watching you yesterday...getting cornered, humiliated....and knowing I couldn't fully step in without betraying him... it broke something in me."
Before I could process, before I could react, he closed the distance and kissed me.
It wasn't gentle or tentative. It was messy, desperate, his hands cupping my face as if this was his last chance. Shock locked mybody for a split-second.... his lips warm, insistent, tasting faintly of coffee and regret.
The front door burst open.
We froze.
Cal stood there, bouquet of pale roses in one hand, a box of chocolates in the other. His expression.... hesitant, guarded, almost hopeful...shattered in an instant as he took in the scene.
The flowers slipped from his grip, hitting the floor with a soft thud. The chocolates followed.
"What the fuck is this?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet, trembling on the edges.
I shoved Kei back hard, breaking the kiss, my breath coming in gasps. "Cal... it’s not...."
Kei stepped away, regret flooding his face. "She didn't...."
"Don't talk," Cal cut in, his eyes wild, glassy with betrayal. He crossed the room in three strides, dropping everything else.
"You kissed my wife?" Cal's voice shook with rage, tears already welling.
"I made a mistake...." Kei started.
Cal lunged, his fist connecting with Kei's jaw in a sickening crack. Kei stumbled back into the counter, pain flashing across his face, but he recovered fast, shoving Cal hard in the chest. "Cal, stop...."
"Shut up!" Cal roared, swinging again.... a wild hook that grazed Kei's cheek, splitting the skin. Blood trickled immediately.
I screamed, rushing forward instinctively. "Stop! Please!" But a sharp pain bolted through my pelvis, forcing me to grab the counter, doubling over. "Oh God...."
They didn't hear me. Cal tackled Kei, both crashing into the dining table. Chairs scraped violently across the tile, one tipping over with a crash. Kei twisted, landing a punch to Cal's ribs that made him grunt in pain. "I didn't mean...." Kei gasped.
