Page 23 of Only When It Breaks

We’re quiet for a minute. Not awkward-silence quiet. Just thick. Charged. Like the air’s full of static, and one wrong move might set off a spark. I shift slightly, so I can see him better. My knee brushes his. He doesn’t move away. My throat feels suddenly tight. “You didn’t have to give me a ride.”

“I know,” he says.

“So why did you?”

He looks at me, really looks at me, and says, “Because I wanted to.”

My heart trips over itself. His gaze drops to my mouth. For a second, I forget how to breathe. And then he starts leaning in. Just a little. Not rushing, not assuming. Just there. It’s close enough that I can see the tiny scar above his eyebrow. Close enough to feel the warmth of him, to taste the possibility. And I don’t move. I don’twantto move.

I think he’s going to kiss me. Iwanthim to kiss me.

And then, “Emmie! Do you guys want tea or hot chocolate?”

I shoot off the bed like I’ve been caught stealing. “Uh, hot chocolate!” I call, heart hammering. My face is probably fifteen shades of red.

Kai stands slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. I can’t even look at him.

“You should probably go soon,” I mumble.

“Right,” he says.

I hate how awkward it suddenly feels. Like the moment we almost had is hanging between us, confused about whether it was even real.

He walks to the door and then pauses. “There’s a party Friday night. You and Ava should come.”

I force myself to look at him. He’s not teasing. He actually means it.

“We’ll see,” I say. Which is Emmie-speak for:I want to, but I’m scared out of my mind.

“I’ll look after you,” he adds, almost like he can feel my panic. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “See you tomorrow.”

He leaves, and I sit back down on my bed, my heart still beating way too fast.

What the hell just happened?

The rest of the week passes in a blur. But the same routine hits every morning and evening with Kai giving Ava and me a lift. And I don’t hate it. In fact, I look forward to those times sat beside him whilst we challenge each other’s music taste or laugh over something we saw on TikTok.

So when Friday arrives, and everyone is talking about the party, I let myself get swept up in it. Excited to be part of it. And right before I’m about to leave, Ava calls. “I can’t come,” she sniffles.

I freeze, “What?”

“My mum’s flipping out over life and basically grounded me for nothing.”

“Oh.” Disappointment creeps in.

“You still go though. Have a great time and tell me everything.” She disconnects, and I’m left staring at the phone.

I head downstairs, where Mum is chatting with Joel. They seem pretty close in such a short space of time, but she hasn’t been this happy in so long. Joel tops her glass with red wine as she looks my way. “Everything okay?”

I shrug. “Ava can’t come so I’m stuck here.”

Joel’s head snaps up. “Kai can come get you.”

I shake my head. He didn’t make plans to pick us up because he isn’t driving. He said he’d meet us there, but I’m not arriving alone.

“It’s fine. I’ll stay in my room out your way.” Joel is already pulling out his mobile and tapping a text message out. “Honestly, it’s fine,” I add.

A minute later, my mobile pings, and I pull it out to see a message from Kai. “Be ready in two, will swing by in the cab on the way.”

---