Page 3 of Rekindled

I lifted my martini glass to my lips. On the rim, I told her, "Okay, fine, so I didn't."

"Liar," she whispered.

I snorted.

"Dammit Maven," she chastised lowly, making me laugh this time. "I swear I can't take your ass nowhere."

Less than two minutes later, Kai rejoined the group. I batted my lashes his way, and he chuckled at the sight.

For the rest of the night, Kai and I shared longing gazes, tucking our lips in our mouths to keep from exchanging knowing grins.

"So?" Journee asked, twisting her head from me to Kai, then back on me, her loose black curls falling in her face. "Ihopethere will be a second date between you two?"

Before I could open my mouth to respond, Kai had done so for us both.

"Oh, most definitely," he affirmed with a smirk, sipping his rum and coke with ease.

He locked eyes with me and added, "I'm looking forward to getting to know Maven a lot better, and her me."

It was subtle, something others would deem innocent, but his assertiveness set off a fire in me. I anticipated Kai learning how to tame my flame. He had the stamina and the confidence I believed was necessary to handle me.

But instead of taming my flame, he only fanned it, then snuffed it out years later. Leaving my heart charred and me feeling burned.

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