Chapter 41: Must Be Nice
The sun hadn’t even finished rising when Kai rolled out her mat in the yoga studio tucked in the back corner of the gym. She’d made this a ritual the past two weeks—early mornings, movement before madness. No phone, no distractions. Just breath, stretch, focus.
She didn’t notice the man on the treadmill upstairs, running at a steady pace with his gaze fixed through the glass wall of the studio.
James didn’t need to interrupt. Watching her like this—bare-faced, hair tied up, moving with unshakable intention—it gave him something quieter than desire. Respect. Maybe even awe.
She moved through her flows with effortless grace, oblivious to the fact that he’d adjusted his schedule just to be here when she was. It was still early, but Kai moved like she was already wide awake inside her body, her mind. Balanced. Controlled.
He watched as she finished the final pose—resting in savasana, arms gently spread, palms upturned. Vulnerable. Still.
Then she sat up, rolled her mat, slung her bag over her shoulder, and disappeared into the change room—still unaware of the man upstairs whose pulse had shifted from his run to her.
James stayed on the treadmill another thirty minutes, trading his stare for focus as he turned up the incline and pushed into a hard sprint. He wasn’t in a rush. She’d be at the café by seven.
And so would he.
Kai was already behind the espresso bar by the time James got downstairs. The café had its usual low hum of morning regulars: laptop warriors, early meetings, sleep-deprived students. Jason spotted him first and leaned over the counter, smirking.
“You’re about to have company.”
Kai glanced up just as James stepped through the door, black shirt snug across his chest, hair damp from his earlier workout. He didn’t approach the counter right away—just lingered near the end of the bar, leaning one elbow on it casually, watching her.
Their eyes met. She raised an eyebrow. He didn’t say a word at first, just let that look settle over her like a second skin. Without even thinking, Kai walked over with a double espresso and placed in front of him. Then, with a quiet confidence that made her heart skip, he nodded once and said, “I’m picking you up tonight. Training.”
She smirked. “You asking or telling?”
He stepped forward just enough that she had to tilt her chin to keep eye contact. “You know the answer to that.”
Kai rolled her eyes playfully and turned away to assemble a wrap. Egg, avocado, bacon—his usual. She handed it to him in a neatly wrapped paper sleeve and added, “This time it’s on the house. You earned it after the treadmill creep session.”
James laughed under his breath. “I was just making sure your form was flawless.”
“It always is.”
Before she could step back fully, he caught her by the wrist and pulled her gently forward, stealing a kiss that lingered just a second too long to be innocent. She blinked when he let go, dazed for a breath, cheeks flushed pink.
“See you tonight,” he murmured, stepping away.
She stood there for a moment, fingers still curled where he’d touched her. Jason slid in beside her with a wicked grin.
“Damn. If that’s how he asks for a wrap, what happens when he wants dinner?”
Kai just shook her head and got back to work—but her smile didn’t fade for the next hour.
That night, the dojo buzzed with quiet energy as Kai stepped inside beside James, the usual scent of mats, sweat, and wood polish instantly grounding her. She walked a half step ahead, her Gi tied neatly, confidence in her stride—but she was acutely aware of James at her side, like always now.
Marty clocked them instantly, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he raised a brow. “Look who’s finally making grand entrances now. What, you two carpooling to everything these days?”
Kai smirked. “Only when I get chauffeured in a car that costs more than my entire business.”
Marty laughed and shook his head, walking off with a chuckle. “Must be nice!”
Kai barely had a second to breathe before she felt a familiar presence at her elbow. Scotty. He gave her that sideways grin she’d known for years and handed her water bottle he’d been holding.
“Figured you might need this, Angel,” he said softly, just for her ears.
She blinked, the name wrapping around her like a memory. Scotty was one of the few people she trusted above all else because not only had he seen her perform with Preston, he was one of the few who knew everything that she went through escaping Beast.
He gave a slow, approving nod as his eyes flicked across the room to where James was stretching. “I saw him at Midnight once or twice. Never approached. Just watched. I figured if he ever went after someone, it’d be serious.”
Kai gave a soft smile, something warm fluttering in her chest. “It’s not like that... exactly.”
Scotty chuckled. “Sure it isn’t. But I’ve known you long enough to spot the shift. You’re different. Calmer. Happier.”
She tilted her head. “Protective much?”
“Always,” he said easily. “You were one of the few that never blurred lines. You knew who you were, even when others didn’t. I respected that. So did a lot of us. I just wanted to say…” He paused, a gentle weight in his gaze. “I’m glad it’s him. And I hope he knows he’s lucky.”
Kai’s throat tightened unexpectedly. She bumped his shoulder gently with hers. “Thanks, Scotty. Really.”
He gave her one more nod, then jogged off toward the warmup circle, calling something obnoxious at Marty along the way.
Across the mat, James looked up from his stretch, his eyes locking with hers for a moment. And something in her eased.
Scotty was right. She was different.
And maybe that was a good thing.