33

Rai Alarge body covers me whole from behind, and for a moment, I’m too disoriented to decipher what just happened. I’m not hearing or smelling anything. My vision is blurry, and it’s almost like waking up in a white room without a recollection of prior events. “Stay low,” the very familiar voice whispers in my ear, and with that, all my other senses kick into gear. It’s like being wrenched from underwater and taking the first gulp of air. As my lungs burn, I realize I haven’t been breathing either. My ears buzz and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. The coffee shop’s entryway, the concrete beneath us, the shot on the door… “Rai, do you hear me? Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I say over the constant ringing in my ears. I attempt to roll from underneath him, but Kyle keeps me pinned in place with a hand around my nape. “Don’t move.” His grip is firm, disallowing me any shift, which wouldn’t be possible considering he’s crushing me with his weight. Every inch of me is covered by him. T