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Secretly, Kai found it refreshing to meet a man who didn’t feel the need to posture or prove his masculinity at every turn. Bas never took himself too seriously, but he could also be sincere and compassionate. He made him laugh, and he listened, really listened, when Kai talked. In a short time, he’d broken through his wall of cynicism and distrust, and Kai found himself looking forward to the time they spent together.
For the first time in a long time, he was…happy. Not just content, but actually happy.
“If I ever decide to move, you’ll be the first to know.”
“You can help me move,” Melissa interrupted as she strolled back into the living room.
“Sure.” Bas shrugged. “When are you moving?”
“In a couple of weeks.” Dropping her purse onto the kitchen bar, Melissa folded her hands together and beamed. “I’m moving in with Daniel.”
“Oh, well…” He rubbed the back of his head, clearly fumbling for what to say next. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
“No, it’s not great, and she most certainly will not be moving in with Daniel.” Why Melissa insisted on acting like a lovesick idiot, Kai would never understand. His sister clearly needed someone to save her from herself. “When are you going to grow up?”
“I’ve been grown for a while now,” Melissa countered. “When are you going to start treating me like it?”
“Shacking up with some guy you met at a bar is not responsible adult behavior.”
“It’s my life.” Melissa jabbed herself in the chest with her forefinger as she pressed in between Kai and Bas. “Is it a mistake? Maybe, but you know what? It’s my mistake. Why can’t you just be happy for me?”
“Because who do you think is going to have to pick up the pieces when this all falls apart?”
“Um, guys—”
“Shut up.” Melissa elbowed Bas in the stomach before rounding on Kai again. “Who says it’ll fall apart? Maybe things will work out with Daniel and maybe they won’t, but that’s not for you to say.”
“It always falls apart!”
“You two, please—”
“Bas, go home.” Kai didn’t need a witness for the murder he was about to commit. Besides, the poor guy didn’t deserve the abuse being hurled in his direction. “I’ll call you later, okay? Or just come back tonight.”
“This is what I’m talking about.” Melissa waved an accusing finger in Kai’s face. “How do you know it’s going to work out with Bas? How do you know nothing bad will happen? Maybe you’ll break his heart.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder and shrugged. “Maybe he’ll break yours. You won’t know unless you take a chance.”
“We’re not talking about me.” Though they’d spent almost every day of the past three weeks together, he and Bas had yet to share even a simple kiss. Yet, there Melissa stood, talking about broken hearts. “The problem is that you take too many chances.”
“At least I’m not going to end up alone and bitter.”
“Okay, okay.” Taking Melissa’s purse off the kitchen bar, Bas stuffed it into her hands and steered her toward the door. “You were going out, right?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting Daniel at the park.” She slung the bag over her shoulder and huffed. “I’m probably going to be late now.”
“That’s good. You go meet Daniel.” Bas opened the front door and practically shoved her through it. “Have fun. Take your time. Maybe have a nice dinner later.”
“We were just going to walk through the—”
Slamming the door in her face, Bas hung his head and groaned. “Do you two ever not fight?”
“She just drives me so crazy. I mean, you see how she acts.” What the hell was he doing? He didn’t have to defend himself or justify his actions. “I think you should go, Bas.”
“Oh, cut the bullshit, Kai.” With a heavy sigh, Bas turned toward him and rubbed both hands over his face. “Nobody’s buying what you’re trying to sell.”
“Excuse me?” He would be damned before he let anyone talk to him like that, especially in his own home. “Get out.”
“No.”
“Get the hell out, Bas.”
