The party was a haze of neon and thumping bass, the air heavy with alcohol and perspiration. Kai leaned back in his drink, hardly feeling the sting as he drank the last of it. His skin was too tight, his mind too loud.
He needed something to distract him.
The girl leaning against him was soft, warm. Her laugh was bright, flirtatious, as she traced a finger along his wrist. "You're quieter than usual," she mused, tilting her head. "Something on your mind?"
Yeah, Kai thought bitterly. Him.
Instead of answering, he smirked and leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. It was instinct. Muscle memory. He'd done this a hundred times before—flirting, touching, kissing, numbing. It should have worked.
It didn't.
Because across the room, he was watching.
Noah.
Expression unreadable. Jaw locked. His dark eyes fixed on Kai, lingering just long enough to make something inside Kai twist.
Then, without a word, Noah turned and walked out.
No teasing. No cocky grin. Just gone.
