"Kai, are you even listening to me?" Yara shouted over the pulsing bass, her hand gripping his forearm as she leaned in closer. Her breath was warm against his ear, and he caught a faint whiff of her perfume—something floral, but sharp, like the edge of a cocktail. He blinked, pulling his gaze away from the neon-lit bar and back to her. "What? Sorry, it’s loud in here."
They’d been friends for years, ever since they met at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Yara was the kind of woman who turned heads without trying—her dark, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her fitted black dress hugged her curves in a way that made it impossible not to notice her. Kai, on the other hand, was more understated, his tall frame and messy brown hair giving him a casual, approachable vibe. Tonight, though, he seemed distracted, his usual easy smile replaced by a furrowed brow.
Yara tilted her head, studying him. "You’ve been weird all night. What’s going on?" Before he could answer, the DJ dropped the beat, and the crowd surged forward, pressing them closer together. Kai hesitated, his eyes darting to the exit, then back to her. "I need to tell you something," he said, his voice barely audible over the music. "But not here."