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KAI'S POV

The evening stretched on with conversations flowing naturally between Kierra and Jo, while Raine remained quieter, her guarded demeanor slipping just enough to suggest she wasn't entirely indifferent to the company. Still, I could feel her attention flit toward the door more often than not, her body language tight with a readiness to leave.

Finally, Raine straightened, her tone cutting through the chatter. "I think I've had enough for tonight."

Jo arched a brow. "You sure? It's barely past ten."

"I'm sure," Raine said, gathering her things without looking at anyone.

"Wait!" Kierra interjected with a grin, already turning to me. "Kai can take you home."

Raine froze, her green eyes narrowing. "That's not necessary."

"Totally necessary," Kierra countered, her grin widening. "Jo and I are gonna hang out a bit longer, and I'm not letting you call a cab when Mr. Broody here can chauffeur you."

"I can handle myself," Raine said, her voice edged with frustration.

But Jo was already nodding along. "Actually, yeah, Raine. Let him drive you. It's not a big deal."

Before Raine could argue further, Kierra tossed me her car keys with an exaggerated flourish. "There. All settled."

I caught them easily, letting out a low sigh as I stood. "Guess that's my cue."

Raine shot me a withering glare but didn't protest again. She led the way to Kierra's car, her silence thick and loaded as we slid inside.

The drive started off quiet, the kind of quiet that stretched long enough to feel suffocating. Raine stared out the window, arms crossed tightly over her chest. I stayed focused on the road, the occasional flash of lightning on the horizon catching my eye.

"You didn't have to do this," she finally said, breaking the silence.

"Believe me," I replied, my tone dry. "I didn't want to."

Her head snapped toward me, her glare sharp enough to cut. "Then why are you?"

"Because I didn't have a choice," I said simply, glancing at her. "And because Kierra thinks it's hilarious to mess with me."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she turned back to the window without another word.

By the time we reached her house, the first drops of rain had begun to fall, quickly escalating into a steady downpour. I shifted the car into park and turned to her.

"Here you go," I said, holding up the keys.

She frowned. "Aren't you supposed to take the car back?"

I nodded toward the ignition. "Kierra didn't give me the key fob. This thing won't start again without it."

Her eyes widened slightly. "You're kidding."

"Wish I was," I muttered.

Outside, the rain was coming down harder, accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder. Raine let out a slow breath, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she turned to me, her reluctance written all over her face.

"You might as well come in," she said, her tone clipped. "No point in sitting out here waiting for the storm to pass."

I didn't argue. Grabbing my jacket, I followed her up the short path to her front door.

Inside, the air was warm, a faint trace of lavender lingering in the space. The décor was minimal but not cold—soft lighting, neutral tones, and an impressive bookshelf lining one wall.

"Stay here," she said, kicking off her shoes by the door. "I'll grab some towels."

I nodded, taking in my surroundings as she disappeared down a hallway. The storm outside had picked up, the sound of rain hammering against the windows filling the space.

When she returned, she handed me a towel without meeting my gaze. "Dry off. And don't touch anything."

"Relax," I said, toweling off my hair. "I'm not gonna wreck the place."

She didn't respond, instead busying herself with setting up a throw blanket on the couch. Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, as if she needed the distraction.

"Nice place," I said after a moment.

She glanced at me, her expression neutral. "Thanks."

The silence that followed wasn't as tense as before, but it wasn't comfortable either. It was something else entirely—charged, like the storm outside.

I sank onto the couch, stretching my legs out as she hovered nearby. "You're not gonna offer your guest a drink?"

Her lips twitched, almost like she wanted to smile but refused to give me the satisfaction. "Do you want water or water?"

"Water's fine," I said, smirking.

She disappeared into the kitchen, and I let my head fall back against the couch, listening to the rain.

When she returned, she handed me a glass without a word and sat in the chair across from me, pulling her knees up to her chest. Her hair was still damp from the rain, the loose waves darker now, clinging to her shoulders.

"You look like you've got something to say," I said, watching her.

Her gaze flicked to me, sharp but guarded. "I don't."

"Sure about that?"

She didn't answer right away, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. Finally, she exhaled.

"You're different than I expected," she said quietly.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Not really," she replied, but there was no malice in her tone.

The corners of my mouth lifted in a faint smile. "Fair enough."

We sat in silence after that, the storm outside roaring on. For the first time all night, Raine didn't seem as tightly wound, and I couldn't help but think that maybe—just maybe—this storm had worked in my favor.

The storm outside showed no sign of letting up, thunder rolling in the distance as rain lashed against the windows. I sipped the water Raine had begrudgingly offered, my eyes drifting to her as she shifted on the chair.

She looked at me then, her brow furrowing slightly. "You look uncomfortable."

I blinked. "What?"

"You're wet," she said bluntly, nodding toward the damp fabric of my shirt. "It's not going to dry anytime soon."

"It's fine," I replied, leaning back against the couch.

She hesitated, her gaze flickering over me like she was considering her next words carefully. Finally, she stood. "You can use my shower if you want. I'll find you something to wear."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're offering me your shower?"

"Don't make it weird," she muttered, already heading toward a hallway. "Follow me."

I didn't argue, trailing her down the hall and into a sleek, minimal bathroom. The scent of lavender lingered here too, the steam from her earlier shower still faintly clinging to the air.

"Stay here," she said, disappearing into what I assumed was her bedroom.

When she returned, she held a folded stack of clothes—a plain white T-shirt and grey sweatpants. She handed them to me without meeting my gaze.

"Thanks," I said, taking the bundle.

"Just... don't take forever," she said, stepping back toward the door.

I paused, holding up the shirt. "Why do you have men's clothes?"

Her eyes snapped back to mine, narrowing slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," I said with a smirk. "Just curious."

She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "They're not mine, obviously. I keep them for... emergencies."

"Emergencies like random guys needing to shower during a storm?"

Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile threatening to break through. "Exactly. Now hurry up before I change my mind."

I shook my head, chuckling under my breath as she turned and walked away, her footsteps fading down the hall.

The hot water was a relief, washing away the lingering chill from the rain. I couldn't help but wonder whose clothes I was wearing, though I doubted I'd get a straight answer from her. Still, something about the situation felt strangely... intimate.

When I emerged, dressed in the borrowed clothes, I found Raine back in the living room, curled up on the couch with a blanket draped over her lap. She glanced up as I entered, her expression unreadable.

"Feel better?" she asked.

I nodded, rubbing a towel over my damp hair. "I owe you one."

She shrugged, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Don't mention it."

I sat across from her, the silence between us heavier now, though not entirely uncomfortable. She glanced at me again, her green eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite place.

"Whose clothes are these?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

Her jaw tightened slightly, but she didn't look away. "A friend's."

"Boyfriend?"

She rolled her eyes. "No."

I leaned back, studying her. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

She shrugged.

I smirked. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

Her lips curved ever so slightly, a fleeting moment of warmth that disappeared as quickly as it came.

"They belong to my ex."

"Oh."

The single syllable hung in the air, weighted by more than just its meaning.

Her gaze dropped back to her lap, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "He left them here. I just never got around to throwing them out."

I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. "Must've been serious if his stuff's still here."

Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "Not really. People leave things behind all the time."

I held my hands up in mock surrender. "Fair enough."

The tension between us crackled faintly, like static electricity just beneath the surface. Outside, the storm raged on, thunder rumbling in the distance, but inside, the air between us felt like the calm before something much bigger.

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