“That sounds nice,” you offer.
“Ain’t nobody has time for all that when they have a job,” Kai huffs.
You tense up. “Well, you found your party favor,” you snap. “Can we leave now?”
“Sounds great,” he snipes back. Except that, when Kai shoulders the door, it doesn’t open.
“What the hell?” he growls.
You push past him and try the door yourself. It shimmies slightly, but won’t budge. Almost like…
“It’s stuck,” you announce.
“No shit,” Kai says. He uses his big hand and bangs on the door a few times, as if to loosen whatever part is stuck, then jiggles the handle again. It doesn’t work.
“Put some force into it,” you suggest. “You can knock over 300-pound guys; you can clearly force open a door.”
Kai thumps it again. “This isn’t TV,” he says. “This thing is solid wood. Maybe I can hit it hard enough to force it, but it’s either gonna smash down the middle or I’m gonna hurt myself. Not risking either.”
“Who cares if you break it?” you say. “We can’t be stuck in here. I can pay for a new door.”
“We all know you can,” he retorts acidly. “But, again, I’m not fucking up my shoulder in the middle of a season. I missed enough time already.”
“I don’t have my phone,” you realize, instinctively reaching for your pocket before remembering that you checked it.
He groans, having been in the midst of the same action. “Goddammit.”
Irritated, you slap the door with your hand, as hard as you can. “Hello?” you call loudly. “Is anyone there?”
“Youknowthat nobody’s there,” he says. “This place isn’t exactly on the main trail.”
Anxiety ladders its way up your back. “Are we just going to be trapped all night?”
“Doubt it,” he says laconically. “When the party’s over, they’ll sweep the park to make sure everyone is gone and find us then.”
“That could take more than an hour!” you exclaim. “Maybe even two!”
“Sorry,” he shrugs unsympathetically. “You claustrophobic?”
“Not particularly,” you reply. “I just…”
“Just don’t want to be stuck in here with me,” he nods flatly. “Copy that. No worries. We don’t need to talk.”
That… actually wasn’t what you were going to say, but you don’t immediately correct him. How pathetic would it be if Kai knew that being this close to him was exactly what you wanted?
“I think weshouldtalk,” you venture. “I don’t like what’s going on here.”
“Just like you don’t like mymeatheadcareer?” he says.
“Is that what has you so pissed off?” you say. “Seriously?”
“I want an apology,” he says flatly.
At first, it’s on the tip of your tongue.Say you’re sorry, and this goes away. You don’t even have to mean it.Almost immediately, however, the rage rushes back in. Your cheeks flush.
“Why should I apologize?” you demand, “when you’re the one who started it?”
“Me?” Kai lowers himself onto the chair at the desk, carefully smoothing his pants across his thighs. He sounds incredulous. “I’m sorry, did I somehow space out the part where I insultedyourjob and had an unprovoked rager on you?”
