Page 84 of Forgotten Prejudice

“I don’t recall you ever caring about shit like that, Ashy.” Teasing me, he’d already begun running forward.

“We don’t have swimwear.” I ran after him.

“Even better.” He stopped not too far from the water and began stripping. First, he got rid of his shirt, then moved to undo his pants while half turning to me. “Come on, Ashy, let’s go for a swim.”

Luckily, he kept his boxers on, not that it mattered with how the thin red fabric clung to his body, showing every curve and bulge. He definitely didn’t have the same physique as he did back then, and my cheeks turned a bit hotter.

Kai ran to the water, his beautiful muscles lit by the moonlight and his blond hair swaying with the wind. He was always handsome and sexy, and I used to love looking at him. But now, it felt different.

Kai’s skin was tanner than Soren’s fair complexion and his muscles thicker, less defined. His hair wasn’t the black that merged with the night but a bright blond that stood out. There were also many tattoos that I didn’t quite like, and to be honest, there was nothing about Kai that reminded me of Soren, and yet, even now, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

About Soren. About the guy I still loved with a full, yet broken, heart.

But Soren was no longer here, and he would never be here. He’d made that point clear back in New York when, out of the blue, he told me we were over.

Done.

Finished.

In a matter of minutes, Soren managed to shatter my world into a million pieces. Thinking about him brought so much pain but mostly anger. I was angry at myself for being that stupid and believing the lies he’d told me. He’d promised me forever, and for him, forever ended after seven short years. This anger that began simmering in the pit of my stomach was what brought me to visit Kai today. It was also what caused me to strip out of my clothes and run to the water in nothing but my boxer briefs.

“Shit, it’s cold!” I hissed and took a step back.

“It’ll get warmer once you’re in,” Kai called as he began swimming toward me.

His body was wet and beautiful, and those thoughts confused me. Because how could I think this way while still mourning the loss of my relationship?

“H-Hey!” I yelped after Kai grabbed my waist and lifted me over his shoulder. His naked skin pressed against mine. It was cold and wet but not unpleasant. “Put me down!” I began laughing while hitting his back, and then it hit me.

I was laughing.

For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel like dying.

But before the realization sank any deeper, Kai tossed me into the freezing water, which was like a wake-up call.

Babe, you gotta understand. It will take time, and you’ll hurt. But hurting is part of life. The best way is to go right through it, hoping you’ll come out of it stronger.

My mom’s words from years ago returned to me as the cold water of the ocean surrounded me. Back then, I was hurting over Kai, thinking I’d never get over him. But I did. I mean, the last time he and I were on this beach, he punched me to the ground, but here we were. Together, again.

“How’s the water, Ashy?” Kai asked with a grin as I resurfaced.

“You made me swallow salt water, you jerk!” I pushed his chest, and he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. We began wrestling, and the sound of his laugh warmed my soul. Soren was probably enjoying a glass of pinot noir with some new guy, not giving a shit about me, so why should I drown in misery when I could—

“Hey! That’s cheating,” Kai yelped after I dunked him down when he wasn’t looking, water splashing everywhere.

This was the most fun I’d had in weeks, and I wanted to enjoy it, even just for a little bit. I knew that once we were out of the water, the sadness would return, and so would the loneliness. It was a type of new loneliness I didn’t even know could exist. The type that dug a hole in my chest so big I knew it would forever stay open.

“Hey.” Kai cupped my face in his palms, holding me close, and his blue eyes looked at me with kindness. “Don’t think about him,” he whispered, and I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch.

If only it were that simple.

But then, Kai got closer until his lips were an inch away from mine, and my breath caught.

“Just focus on me,” he said, or should I say begged, and closed the distance between us until our lips met.

My first instinct was to push him away because, deep down, I didn’t want this foreign touch. Until now, Soren’s lips were the last I tasted, and I wanted to keep it that way. But my body didn’t push Kai away, and instead, I opened my mouth for him and allowed him in.

He wrapped his hands around me in a tight hug and pulled me closer as if not to let the waves wash me away. With my hands on his chest, I latched on to him, moaning at the intrusion of his tongue. Everything about this kiss was different, from the roughness of his stubble to the impulsiveness of his moves, but it was consuming nonetheless. My soul yearned to be loved and cherished—even if it was by the wrong person. Kai’s kiss brought me comfort, and selfishly, I thrived on it.