SHE COULDN’T STAY MAD AT HIM

Jenny had never liked being kept waiting.

In her world, people arrived when they said they would. Plans happened when they were supposed to happen. And if someone cancelled, they had better have a very good reason.

So when Kai didn't show up for lunch, she was furious.

She sat alone at the corner table of an expensive restaurant, staring at the untouched glass of water in front of her.

12:05.

12:12.

12:20.

12:31.

No message.

No call.

Jenny checked her phone again.

Nothing.

She finally typed:

Where are you?

Then deleted it.

She typed again:

Are you seriously standing me up?

Deleted.

She locked her phone.

"Whatever."

But she wasn't whatever.

She was annoyed.

Very annoyed.

Across the city, Kai was kneeling beside a little girl at a crowded intersection.

She couldn't have been more than seven.

Her school uniform was soaked from the rain, her cheeks covered in tears, and she was desperately looking through the crowd.

Kai had been riding past when he noticed her standing alone.

He immediately stopped.

"Hey."

The girl looked at him nervously.

"Where's your mom?"

"I don't know."

Kai glanced around.

Hundreds of people were moving past them.

He took off his leather jacket and gently wrapped it around the girl's shoulders.

"What's your mom's name?"

"Sarah."

"Okay."

Kai crouched so they were at the same height.

"We're going to find Sarah."

The girl grabbed his hand.

Kai spent nearly half an hour walking through the crowd with her.

Eventually, they heard someone screaming her name.

A woman came running toward them.

The moment she saw her daughter, she dropped to her knees.

"Oh my God!"

She pulled the girl into her arms.

Kai stepped back.

"She's okay."

The woman looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you."

Kai nodded.

"Just keep her close."

Then he checked his phone.

12:42.

He froze.

Twenty-seven missed calls.

All from Jenny.

When Kai finally arrived at the restaurant, Jenny was already outside.

She stood beneath the awning, arms crossed, looking absolutely furious.

Kai pulled his motorcycle over and removed his helmet.

"I'm sorry."

Jenny stared at him.

"You said twelve."

"I know."

"It's almost one."

"I know."

"You didn't call."

"I—"

"I don't want an excuse."

Kai went quiet.

Jenny looked at him.

"Do you know how long I've been sitting there?"

"Jenny—"

"Forty-two minutes."

"I'm sorry."

She laughed bitterly.

"Of course you are."

Kai frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you're always sorry."