It's All Relative(115)

Louis raised his shoulders under Kai’s hands and shook his head. “What?”

Dropping his hands, Kai smacked his shoulder. “She’s a friend of mine, treat her like a lady.”

Louis straightened his stance and rested a hand on the tranquilizer gun at his hip. “I am the epitome of a gentleman on a date, Kai.” He raised an eyebrow at him and leaned in. “Why do you think I’m so successful at the mating ritual?” Kai grinned as Louis patted his back and started walking away. “Don’t wish me luck, because I won’t need it!” He called over his shoulder.

Standing in front of Mason’s door, Kai watched the strange man saunter down the hallway. Definitely an eclectic group of scientists they had here. Laughing as Louis scratched an itch in the shaggy head of hair that probably hadn’t seen a speck of shampoo in quite some time, Kai tossed out, “Oh, you might want to shower, too!”

Not turning to look back at him, Louis raised a finger in the air. “The female species loves the scent of machismo, Harper. Remember that, the next time you snag a date with a hottie.” Twisting to finally look at Kai, he smirked as he paused at the corner of the hall. “Then maybe she won’t dump your sorry ass.” Winking, he added, “Hey, if you get lonely, you could always hook up with Missy again.”

Then he darted around the corner and disappeared. Kai softly laughed to himself. He’d actually miss Louis, and his odd, sometimes correct advice. Imagining Louis and April together made him shake his head. Regardless of his confidence, he silently wished Louis luck. He was going to need it.

Kai’s momentary lightheartedness crashed back to bitter reality as he twisted around to face Mason’s door. Once he opened it, he would begin the process of leaving Jessie. He was horrified and anxious to get that ball rolling. Closing his eyes and exhaling a slow, controlled breath, he knocked on the door.

Almost immediately, a worn voice replied with, “Enter.”

Kai stepped into the room, softly closing the door behind him. His heart started thudding in his chest as he spotted Mason, sitting at his desk cluttered with journals and notes. Even though things between Kai and Mason had been strained at times, Kai enjoyed working here with him. He wasn’t eager to tell him he was leaving, and he had no real reason to offer Mason except that he’d changed his mind. It seemed like a shallow excuse to Kai. Empty. But it was better than the truth.

Mason silently studied Kai as he approached his desk. There was an odd expression on his face, like he was calculating and debating. Did Mason know what Kai was about to say? He didn’t think so, but the idea that he might know made Kai even more nervous as he sat in a chair across from him.

Tension filled the room, making Kai’s palms sweat. God, why was this so hard? Mason was a stranger who didn’t like him. Of all the conversations Kai was going to have in the next couple weeks, this one should be the easiest. Running his hands over his slacks, Kai cleared his throat. Might as well get this over with. “Um…Mason, I need to talk to you about something…and it’s sort of hard to talk about. I’m not really sure where to begin…”

Mason’s reaction to Kai’s words surprised him so much, that he couldn’t continue his thoughts. He crumpled in his chair and let out a sigh that was both weary and relieved. His chin quivered with emotion, and his eyes started to shine with building tears. The nerves inside Kai started to morph into dread. What the hell was wrong with his boss? As Kai debated what to say, he was struck with an odd desire to run.

Suddenly, Mason’s expression turned hard. “He told you, didn’t he?” He shook his head at Kai, his voice both incredulous and agitated. “I can’t believe he actually told you. After everything he did to get you out here with me, so I could tell you…he told you anyway. He said he would give me until the end of the year. I can’t believe he was so impatient, that he couldn’t give me just a few more weeks with you. He had to know how hard this has been for me. Not that he would care if I was suffering.” He sighed. “Maybe I deserve to suffer after what I did to him…”

Kai felt like someone had just lifted the floor and shook it so hard his head was rattling. He’d never been so confused in all his life. He’d also never been so concerned. Something was going on here that he didn’t know about. Something that involved him…and Mason.

Kai opened and closed his mouth a few times, but he didn’t know what to ask. Suddenly looking exhausted, Mason rubbed his face as he sighed. “I told Leilani this wouldn’t work, that she and Nate should sit down and tell you together, but she begged me…said you’d take it better if it came from me, that maybe you wouldn’t hate her if I softened the blow for her. Ridiculous. But somehow she convinced me, and I agreed to take you in, so I could tell you…so I could get to know you.” His face hardened as he shook his head. “But then Nate decides that your relationship with him is getting worse, and he needs this…monkey off his back so he can repair the damage he’s caused by being too scared to talk to you.” With a scoff, he looked up at the ceiling. “And then he goes and tells you anyway…right as I’m working up the nerve to do it. I shouldn’t be surprised. He always was impatient.”

Anger raced up Kai’s spine. Nothing Mason said was making any sense. What the hell did his parents have to do with…anything? “What the hell are you talking about? What would my mom and dad want you to tell me? What could possibly be so awful, that they couldn’t talk to me about it first?”