Ezra didn't remember much about getting back to his apartment. The last thing clear in his mind was the dark glint in Kai's eyes after the confrontation in the alley, that dangerous mix of adrenaline and something almost… amused.
Now, the room felt too still. The hum of the fridge in the kitchen. The occasional creak in the walls. Everything seemed louder than it should be, pressing in on him. He didn't take off his jacket. Didn't turn on the lights. He just sat at the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, replaying every word.
The truth was, tonight had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. Kai hadn't just stepped over a line—he'd dragged Ezra across it with him. And Ezra hadn't stopped him. Not really.
A soft knock at the door snapped his head up. Three slow, deliberate taps.
He knew who it was before he opened it.
Kai leaned against the doorframe, his shirt still damp from the rain, hair falling into his eyes. "You didn't answer my calls," he said, voice low.
Ezra glanced at the phone on the table—two missed calls, one text: Open your door.
"You shouldn't be here," Ezra muttered, stepping back but not shutting the door.
Kai stepped inside anyway, the way someone would if they knew they were welcome even when they weren't. His eyes swept the room, pausing on the coffee table where Ezra's hands had been clenched moments ago.
"I told you," Kai said, his tone more measured now, "you can't hesitate. Not when things get messy."
Ezra's frustration flared. "Messy? You almost—" He cut himself off, lowering his voice even though they were alone. "Do you realize how close you came to—"
Kai took a step closer. "I realize exactly how close I came. That's the point."
Ezra shook his head, trying to steady his breathing. "This isn't a game."
"No," Kai said, leaning in just enough that Ezra could feel the heat from him. "It's not a game. That's why you need to decide right now—are you in, or are you just going to keep pretending you're not?"
There was no smirk this time. No teasing lilt in his voice. Just challenge.
Ezra's mouth went dry. He thought about walking away. About shutting the door and locking it. But instead, he asked, "And if I say I'm in?"
Kai's gaze dropped to Ezra's lips for half a second before locking eyes again. "Then you stop questioning me. You stop holding back. And you learn what it means to really dare someone."
The tension between them thickened, no longer just about the night's events. Ezra could feel the current shift, drawing him in. He didn't know if it was adrenaline, anger, or something far more dangerous.
Kai's hand brushed against Ezra's as he moved past him toward the couch. "You've already crossed the line," he murmured. "You might as well see where it leads."
Ezra exhaled slowly, knowing deep down that whatever choice he made tonight would change everything.