Split POV: Kai & Sebastian
Kai's POV
It started with a bouquet. A massive one. Like, obnoxiously massive—roses, lilies, glittery things sticking out of it like fireworks.
Then came Luca.
Goddamn LUCA.
I was halfway through texting Ray about grabbing lunch when the guy dropped to one knee in the middle of campus. Middle. Of. Campus. Where people were filming. Filming and gasping and whispering like it was some drama scene and not the beginning of a homicide.
"Ray Lin," Luca said, like he was in a K-drama audition, "I've liked you since first year. Will you go out with me?"
My phone was already dialing.Seb answered on the second ring.
"I need you to remain calm," I said, sprinting toward the crime scene.
"What happened?""Someone proposed to Ray."Dead silence."I'm not calm," Seb replied."I didn't think you would be. Should I stall?""Hold him.""Copy that."
I reached them just as Ray went full deer-in-headlights.
"Luca," she said, panicked, eyes darting between him and the crowd, "this is not—this is—I'm—"
"—Taken," I announced, swooping in between them. "My guy, I'd step back if you value your face structure."
Luca blinked. "I didn't see her boyfriend anywhere."
I smiled. "You're about to."
Sebastian's POV
I was out the door in under twenty seconds. Left a billion-dollar deal hanging. Who the hell cared?
I got to the university in eleven minutes flat. Don't ask how. Laws were broken. Maybe gravity too.
The crowd was still there. Luca was still there.Kai was standing in front of him like a guard dog who read too much Greek tragedy. And Ray—my girl—was flustered, red, rambling to the crowd that this was a misunderstanding.
I didn't stop walking. People moved for me.
"Who is he?" someone whispered."Is that a celebrity?""No, that's her boyfriend.""He's so hot I'm scared—"
I stepped between Luca and Ray.Put my arm around her.Looked at Luca with all the warmth of a loaded gun.
"She's taken," I said.
Ray stiffened. I could feel the heat from her cheek against my shirt. But her hand curled around my waist like it belonged there.
Luca stammered something about "not knowing" and "just trying his chance."
I smiled.
Kai read the smile like a death sentence.
He grabbed Luca by the shoulder. "You heard him. Let's walk that way. Like, far away."
Ray smacked my chest once we were alone. "You're insane. You can't just storm the university like—like some mafia boss!"
"Technically," I said, "I am a mafia boss."
She tried not to laugh. Failed. Blushed harder. "You're a menace."
I leaned down, brushing my lips to her temple. "Only for you."