“Maybe in a few minutes. I’ll call Aadya first. Her classes might be done by now.”
I feel his lips press against my temple as he smiles.
“Tell her that her father could use a call. She only ever callsyou.”
I chuckle. “Are you jealous?”
A quiet laugh rumbles in his chest.
“No,” he lies smoothly.
I pull back just enough to look up at him. “Can you... ask him why? I know thewhyshouldn’t matter, but...”
“It doesn’t,” he says gently. “I didn’t even know he and Alisha were really together. I mean, Isuspected. But thewhyrarely changes anything. Weknowthis.”
I nod, biting my lip. “Still... I just...”
“I know. I’ll ask,” he murmurs, his tone much softer now than it was two minutes ago. “Fuck. Just give me five minutes alone with him, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper, and we slowly untangle. He kisses the tip of my nose, then my lips, and walks off toward the living room.
I want to call Alisha. Hell, I want to call Kashvi and ask what the hell is happening. They’re adults. Why would he mess this up now?
I shoot off a quick check-in with my chatterbox—Aadya, who is currently very into robotics club drama—and then make my way into the living room.
Their voices are low, but the tension crackles.
“And then? What did you doafter?” Lucian asks, steady but stern.
“I... I don’t know. I pushed her away. Told her it was a mistake. I think I was tipsy—”
“First of all,” Lucian interrupts, “you shouldn’t have been drinking at that party. Yes, you’re legal age. But you’re alightweight. Your mother knows it. I know it. Hell, evenAlishaknows it.”
Kai nods numbly. My fingers twitch with the urge to hug him, but this isn’t the moment.
“Now,” Lucian says. “Tell me what happened after Alisha saw you kiss this... this—”
“Marley,” Kai mutters unwisely.
“I don’t want to know her name,” Lucian says calmly. “Unless she’s about to become our daughter-in-law—which I highly doubt.”
Kai immediately shakes his head, wide-eyed. I finally slip into the seat next to Lucian, and Kai turns to me with pleading eyes.
“Mom...”
“Don’t talk to her,” Lucian says. “Talk to me. What did you do after you kissed this girl?”
“I... I followed Alisha back,” he says miserably. “She was... crying. I just wanted to make sure she got back to her dorm safely.”
I nearly saylike father, like sonbut decide I don’t want to risk getting spanked for that later. (Or maybe I do—focus, Rohi.)
Lucian sighs. “Son... without blaming it on the drinking.Whydid you kiss her?”
Kai slumps in the armchair, looking heartbreakingly small. “I didn’t initiate it. Iswear. But I didn’t stop it fast enough either. I know that’s the same thing in the end. As for why—” He swallows. “Ally kept asking me to transfer from Simon Fraser to UBC. But it’s not that simple.”
I frown. That’s not an excuse.
“We were... we were fightinga lot,” Kai admits. “Finals were stressing me out. I told her I needed a break. And then she showed up at the... the party.”
