Page 23 of Pretty Little Kitty

Kia’s heart fluttered. “You really know how to make a guy feel special.” Suero’s gaze made him feel truly seen. “I’m not going back with Jared tonight,” he whispered.

Why return to a house where he’d just end up sitting alone in his room? Even though Suero’s wolf hadn’t chosen him, he wanted to explore their connection.

Suero raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“No,” he admitted. “But I’d like to spend more time with you, if that’s okay.”

The phone buzzed loudly on the bar, cutting off Suero’s response. Kia picked it up and glanced at the screen. Xavier was calling him. He tried to silence it but accidentally answered the call instead.

Shit! Noise from the bar flooded the call—laughter, blaring music, pool balls clacking—blowing any lie he might’ve have come up with for his absence.

“Kia?” Suero’s voice was soft and close. Why did you have to say my name?

With a trembling hand, Kia pressed the phone to his ear. A single breath from the other end confirmed his uncle was listening.

Panicking, he quickly ended the call, dropping the phone like it had burned him. It bounced on the bar, fading to black. Kia leaned forward, elbows on the counter, hands pressed to his face. His heart pounded, throat constricted. “He’s going to kill me.”

“He’ll want answers. Not the same thing.”

“It is when you’re all he has left.” Kia’s voice cracked, truth landing like a gut punch. “I just… I needed to breathe, but I’ve made everything worse.”

“You needed more than air, cariño,” Suero said gently. “You needed to be seen. You still do.”

Kia leaned into Suero, hands still covering his face. “I’m not used to this. To being wanted and worried about.”

“Get used to it.” Suero said, hand steady on Kia’s back, grounding him.

“I’ll have to face him,” he mumbled into his hands.

“Yeah,” Suero replied quietly. “But not tonight.”

The simplicity helped. No promises. No sugarcoating. Just the reminder that Kia could breathe for now, even if tomorrow had claws.

He finally lifted his head, dragging his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t be here.” Though his heart disagreed.

Sitting up, Kia raked a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t be here,” he murmured, though the ache in his chest with contradiction.

“You’re exactly where you need to be,” Suero replied.

Turning slowly, Kia glanced up at him. Suero’s gaze made it hard to breathe.

“You’re not going to disappear again, are you?” he asked.

Kia shook his head. “Not unless you push me away.”

“I won’t,” Suero promised. “Even if my wolf takes his sweet time, I’m still here. Choosing you.”

“That’s going to make it harder to leave.”

“Then don’t.”

They locked eyes as Cesar slid a drink across the bar with a clink. Jared’s wings and fries landed next, the aroma nearly overwhelming Kia with emotion and hunger at the same time.

His cousin mumbled a quick thanks, already digging in, but Kia didn’t move. Didn’t reach for the glass. Didn’t look away.

For the first time in weeks, he didn’t feel like running.

Chapter Seven

---