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“Wow, dude,” Kai says. “No shit? That’s amazing. I’m happy for you, bro, and welcome to the family, Lyd. I hope it’s cool if I call you that?”

“Yeah,” I say, laughing. “That’s more than okay.”

“Cool, everyone’s happy for everyone. Now, can we get all of your shit inside, Kai? I have a shift in a couple of hours, and I need to drop the rental off in the city before that,” Raithe says, quickly becoming the black cloud that Callum swears him to be.

Callum sneers, choosing not to tear Raithe apart like I’m sure he wishes he could right now. The interaction only makes me further wonder what happened between these two.

“So eager to be rid of me, brother? With your recent absence around the house, I can’t imagine I’m that much of a nuisance,” Kai says to Raithe, throwing an arm around his shoulder.

“You know I’ve been busy with work,” Raithe says, scoffing as he shoulders a bag and heads for the retreat entrance.

Once they’re both a safe distance away, I turn my gaze up to Callum. “So, that was … fun,” I say, scrunching my nose.

“Raithe is a goddamn child, just like I said,” he huffs out. “Let’s get Kai settled and get the fuck out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”

“Oh, come on,” I say. “It’s not so bad. Ooo, maybe it has a sauna or goat yoga!” I turn toward him excitedly, bouncing on my toes. He glares down at me, but that tiny hint of a smile gives him away every time.

“Goat yoga?” he asks, shaking his head. “No, I don’t even want to know. And like I said, we’re not sticking around. We’re gonna make sure that Kai is settled, and then we’re out.”

This time, it’s my turn to glare. “Aw, come on, sunshine,” I whine. “Don’t you wanna see me all hot and naked in a sauna?”

“Christ, love.” His jaw ticks, and his voice comes out low and ragged. “You’re determined to drive me to the pits of Hell, aren’t you?”

“Only if I get to come, too,” I say, smiling up at him.

“Come here,” he says, grabbing my wrist and tugging me against his chest. He wraps his broad arms around my lower back, staring down into my soul. Man, he is really getting good at this whole boyfriend thing.

“You wanna know why I don’t need a place like this?” he asks, his voice low so only I can hear.

“Why is that?” I ask in fascination.

“Because you are my solace. You are the only cure I seek, the only thing that can quiet the noise. You make me feel whole again, Lydia. I don’t need therapy or a dumb healing retreat to tell me that. What I need is right here in front of me, and I’ve been a fool for far too long.”

I stare up into his gaze, awestruck by not only the words but their honest intent. “Callum, I–”

His lips press firmly to mine, suffocating the words and my desire to speak them. I kiss him back as he pulls me against him. The kiss starts slow, quickly building to that place where only passion resides. Our surroundings are nothing but a blur, quickly disappearing until only he and I remain.

“Well, that’s not something you see every day,” I hear Kai’s voice from somewhere in the near distance, pulling me from the moment.

I giggle against Callum’s lips. Callum, however, does not find this funny. He pulls away, turning to glare at Kai. Meanwhile, I spot Raithe leaning against a large stone bird bath. His arms are crossed firmly over his chest, and he’s staring at us with a look of indifference. He locks onto my gaze, averting his own to stare down at the ground. He shakes his head, bringing it down into his hands and pressing his palms into his eyes. Maybe he’s hungover. Surely long nights in the club come with the “fuck boy” persona.

“What, man?” Kai starts, pulling my gaze away from Raithe. “You guys were gaining quite the audience.”

I glance around, noting the voyeurs gathered. I don’t usually care what others think, but the way they all continue to stare is slightly unnerving.

“Oh, wow, I—”

“The fuck are you all looking at?” Callum grumbles. “Get lost. Go back to your little therapy circles or whatever.”

The onlookers look at one another, some smiling while others appear mildly offended. I spot a couple of them off to the right with a vacant expression in their eyes. No one makes any attempt to vacate the premises, though. It’s a bit weird, even to me.

“Malakai,” I hear a familiar female voice say.

I glance up, taking in the strawberry blonde beauty that I first saw back at Havencrest. Emery walks up to Kai, stopping a few feet from him. Kai beams at her, pulling her in for a hug. She stands there stiffly with her arms plastered to her sides. Kai releases her from the hug, stepping back to grab the bag he dropped when he saw her coming his way.

Tilting my head, I note the way Emery’s cheeks flush a bright shade of crimson. Brushing it off, she crosses her arms over her chest and shoots Kai what can only be described as a warning glare.

“I know, I know,” Kai starts. “I’m not supposed to touch you.” Emery visibly winces, and I swear that her cheeks flush a shade even darker. “But the circumstances seemed fitting. I’m just excited, that’s all. I won’t do it again. I promise, Em.”