“No.” I shake my head frantically. “Just apologize to her.”

“Told you I would,” he mutters, but I can see it in his eyes that he doesn’t want to.

“Good.” I slip off the table and fix my pants, my mind finally focused on what the doctor said. “We’re having a boy,” I breathe, adjusting my clothes. “You’re really not surprised that we’re having a boy, are you?”

“No. I knew.” He kisses the top of my head and opens the door.

“How?” I ask, pausing in the hall to search his face.

“Don’t know. I just knew it was a boy.”

“Strange.” I shrug and begin walking again.

His arm goes around my shoulders, and we make a quick stop to schedule our next appointment before heading out to the car. We don’t talk on the way back to the house, but our hands stay locked together on my lap, the fingers of my free hand running over his skin.

“Thank you,” I tell him, looking down at our entwined fingers when he pulls up to the house and puts the car in park.

“For what?” he questions, confused.

I lift my head and look at him, thinking about all the things I want to say. “For giving me everything.”

His eyebrows pinch, and I soften my voice.

“For marrying me, for loving me, for giving me a child. Even if I was never expecting any of this, I’m still thankful for all of it.”

“The gods had written you into my destiny a long time ago, makamae,” he says quietly. His face softens as he lifts my hand to his mouth, where he places a kiss on my ring.

Chapter 14

Explosion

“Pika!” I yell from upstairs when I see my friend sitting in the living room, looking out at the ocean.

His head turns towards me, and I carefully run down the stairs and throw myself into his arms. He catches me on a humph and gives me a squeeze before pulling away and removing his hands from me.

“How are you?” I smile, happy to see him.

“Good.” He smiles back then looks me over, his eyes settling on my round stomach for a moment. “You look happy,” he says as his eyes meet mine again.

“So happy,” I whisper, and he nods as his face softens.

“Myla.”

I turn my head to look at Kai and smile, putting a hand on my hip, giving him a mock glare. “You didn’t tell me Pika was coming home.”

“It slipped me. Can I please see you in my office for a moment?” he asks, and I notice the agitation in his voice as he speaks.

“Um…” I look at Pika then back at Kai, wondering why the guys are acting so strange. “Sure,” I tell him then turn and give Pika another hug, whispering that I’m glad he’s back before pulling away, but not without noticing the embrace is not shared and his hands stay at his sides. Before Kai came home all those months ago, I would often lean on Pika, so the distance he’s putting between us is slightly unsettling.

“Myla,” Kai growls.

I nod then head towards his office, wondering what the hell happened. He’s standing in his doorway when I get there, and all I can do is pray that something bad hasn’t happened. Things have been quiet lately, and I would like them to stay like that. As soon as I cross the threshold, he closes the door behind me and begins pacing back and forth.

“Is everything okay?” I whisper, sitting down in his chair and watching him.

“Do not touch Pika again.”

Of all the things I thought he might want to talk to me about, this was never one of them. I study his face and notice that his jaw is tight and there is a slight tick in his right cheek—the tick he gets when he is pissed off.

“Can I ask you why?” I question softly, leaning back in the chair.

“Because I don’t like it.”

“Kai—”

“No, Myla. All I need you to say is that you won’t touch him again.”

“You act as if I tried to make out with him,” I mutter.

“You threw yourself at him,” he snarls, ripping a hand through his hair, his gaze going out the window.

“I missed him. He’s my friend,” I say softly, watching him.

He prowls towards me until his face is inches from mine. “Do not do it again. Got it?”

I lean back, struck by his words and the intensity in his voice. “Do not tell me what to do, and do not ever get in my face like that again.” I go to stand and his hands go to either side of the chair, caging me in, forcing me to stay seated.

“You do it again, Myla, and I will send him away. And this time, it will be for good.” His tone is so deadly that a chill slides down my spine.

I have never, not once, been afraid of Kai, but this guy in front of me right now is not the man I fell in love with. This guy is someone completely different—someone who I don’t like very much. I want to ask him what happened and why he’s acting like this, but instead, I nod and swallow the hurt down so that I can get away from him.

“I won’t do it again,” I whisper.

His position in front of me doesn’t change, and he searches my face for a moment then leans in. When I see his intention, I turn my head just in time for his mouth to miss mine and his lips touch my cheek.

“Myla,” he says softly, and that softness only helps to piss me off further.

“I don’t feel well. I think I need to go lie down,” I say, looking back into his eyes. Concern transforms his features and guilt settles in my gut, but I don’t let that stop me.