It had taken two days and Kiki calling out from work sick for Vi and Leena to catch wind of what had happened. She tried to tell them over the phone that she was fine, but between the sobs she was unconvincing, so they forced their way over.
“It’s going to be okay,” Vi tried to reassure her, wrapping her in a hug.
Vi had such a gentle, mothering touch when she needed to. And right now, it was exactly what Kiki needed.
“She’s right.” Leena leaned over from the chair, putting a reassuring hand on Kiki’s knee. “I mean it wasn’t easy for me and Vi. Both of us have broken up with our guys, and because they were worth it, we repaired that break.”
“You broke up with them. They chased you back. He broke up with me. After three days of no calls it’s pretty clear.” Kiki pulled away from Vi only to bury her face into the blanket she snuggled on the couch. Her eyes were sore and puffy. “I’m so sorry, Vi. You told me this would happen, and I didn’t listen. And now what? I’m an idiot and the laughingstock of the whole gym. The second ex-girlfriend to work there.”
“You’re not an idiot, and anyone who says so is going to get Gav’s fist in their fucking face!” Leena said seriously.
“Kiki, you put yourself out there and got hurt. It happens. But think of all the great things that have changed in the last couple of month since you’ve started working at the gym. You’ve met great friends, trained MMA, found some of that confidence I knew you had inside you. You should be proud.”
Kiki bit back a sob, but hot tears ran down her face. She didn’t want to think about that. She wanted to think about her heart and how badly it hurt, and the humiliation. She wanted to wallow in her pity.
“Why don’t you take the next couple of days off?” Vi offered.
It wasn’t a bad idea, but a few days off wasn’t going to change anything. All it would do was show weakness. And she’d worked so hard on not being weak that she wasn’t about to go back down that path.
“No. I’ll be fine to come in tomorrow.” Kiki tried to smile. “Though I might be wearing sunglasses to cover these puffy eyes.”
“Whatever you want to do is good with us, Kiki. You have our full support.” Vi scooted over, pulling Kiki into her side, with another comforting hug.
“Yeah. And if that support includes Gav and Colin roughing up Wade, we’re in.”
“Hey now!” Vi shook her head. “That’s still my little brother.”
“I said rough up, not injure.”
“Okay,” Vi agreed, and the women all laughed a bit.
The knock on the door surprised them all. “Are you expecting company?” Leena asked.
Kiki shook her head at Leena. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Romantically coming back to console her, to apologize. She’d take it any way she could get it.
Wiping her eyes, Kiki stood up off the loveseat. She straightened her PJs, and brushed back her hair. There was nothing she could do about the blotchiness on her face. But Wade would understand the tears. Though they hadn’t said it, he had to have known that she totally fell in love with him.
Kiki squared her shoulders before opening the door. Her heart sank at the sight of the man on the other side, holding a bottle of wine. It was a sweet gesture, from the wrong man.
Joshua caught her when she threw herself into his arms. She loved that her friends were so great that they came to check on her, and the fact that he brought her favorite wine was amazing.
“Hey, Kiki. Don’t cry.” Joshua patted her on the back, trying to console her.
Realizing that they were still in the entryway, Kiki pulled back and waved him in.
“Wait?” Kiki looked up at him. “Are you here because you heard about me and Wade?”
Joshua’s face went red as he twirled the wine bottle in his hand nervously. “Good news travels fast.” He shrugged.
Kiki’s stomach sank. She was sure she was going to be sick. Of course it traveled fast and she was confident she knew who was making sure it got around. That stupid B!
“Oh, you have company.” Joshua waved at the women sitting on the couch, pulling Kiki from her thoughts. “I should have expected this. Sorry I didn’t call first,” he said, handing over the wine bottle.
“No, it’s okay. Thank you for coming by.”
Kiki took the wine to the kitchen as he made his way over to the oversized chair, making himself comfortable.
“Leena, Vi, you guys want a glass of wine?”
“Oh, no thanks,” Leena declined. “I gotta be going soon.”
“Here, let me help you,” Vi offered, standing and heading to the kitchen.
“Grab a glass and I’ll pour you some,” Kiki said with a half-smile.
“I’m riding with Leena, so it sounds like we’re leaving soon.” Vi paused, looking toward the living room and back at Kiki before lowering her voice. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay with us leaving you here with Joshua?”
Kiki furrow her brow. Why would Vi be concerned about that? He was just another friend coming to check on her. She was thankful to have such a strong support system.
“It’s totally fine.” Kiki shrugged before pouring herself a glass of wine.
She didn’t bother to ask Joshua if he wanted a glass, because she knew he no longer drank. He’d had a problem with it in the past that led to the end of his marriage. It wasn’t something he told many people, but they had that type of friendship where they could confide in one another. It was something that she’d hoped she would have with Wade. And on that thought the tears again glossed in her eyes as she struggled to rein in the erratic breathing, trying to hold back the sobs.
“All right. But promise to text me if you need anything. And like I said, if you want to take a couple of days off, you can.”
“No, there is still too much I need to get through before you leave.”
Vi only smiled, turning her open arms for a hug, and Kiki accepted the embrace. Vi had been amazing. Kiki couldn’t imagine that this was easy for her either. But somehow, she’d managed to stay true to both sides of this break-up, and Kiki was glad.
“Me too!” Leena called, making her way into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around the women. “We love you, sweet Kiki,” Leena said. “I’m gonna text you when I get home to check on you.”
“Thanks, girls. I love you too.”
The women left, and when the door shut behind them, Kiki took her glass and sat on the loveseat across from the chair Joshua was sitting in. “Thanks for coming over.” Kiki looked down into the glass of white wine. “What are they saying at the gym?”
“Nothing worth repeating,” Joshua said with a shake of his head. “So, what happened exactly?”
What did happen? That’s what she’d been trying to figure out since it happened. While Kiki had shared some of the details with the girls, she wasn’t sure how much she should share with Joshua. Wade didn’t want to talk about his feelings, and her telling another man about that might not help the situation. There you go again protecting Wade.
“I’m still trying to figure it out. It was just a mess,” Kiki said. She was starting to feel numb over the entire situation. The tears had stopped, but her whole body felt tingly. She needed a hot shower and a nap. Maybe sleep off the exhaustion of all the emotions running through her body.
The couch dipped down next to her, and Joshua’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her to his side. His hand was clammy, and being this close to a man who wasn’t Wade felt awkward, even though they’d been closer than this in the octagon.
“You know, Kiki, he was never good enough for you.” Joshua rested his head on top of hers with affection.
Kiki started to feel uncomfortable. “That’s nice of you to say. You’ve always been such a good friend.”
Joshua let out a sigh. Backing out of the embrace, he turned to face Kiki. “You have to know that I want to be more than friends with you. This is terrible timing, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity. Wade is an asshole, and he is finally out of the picture.”
Kiki’s head spun. The signs had been there all along that he liked her. She thought she had done a good enough job with not reciprocating them that he would take the hint. But apparently, she was wrong.
“It’s there, Kiki. You just don’t realize it. Just think about us, about all the time we spend together, about how much fun we have, all the things we’ve shared. I’m perfect for you. And you’re just plain perfect.”
“You’re one of my best friends–”
“Don’t say that word anymore. Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean we can’t be more.” Joshua ran his hand through his hair as his words became rushed and wild. “Just…just kiss me once and you’ll see. You’ll feel it.”
Oh no. Kiki felt the retch in her stomach. She had no feelings, no attraction whatsoever toward Joshua, and having to deal with this emotional baggage that she’d apparently brought on herself was enough to make her break down.
“No, Joshua.” Kiki took his hands in hers. “We will only ever be friends.”
“No!” he shouted.
Joshua’s hands held her face firmly as his thin lips pressed hard on hers, trying to coax them open. Kiki twisted out of the hold, punching her fist into Joshua’s chest to get him off.
“Stop it!” Kiki shouted. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“You just needed to see. You weren’t listening to reason. I had to show you. Tell me you didn’t feel that…that spark!”
“You need to leave,” Kiki said, standing up, but a strong hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her back down.
“Not without an explanation. Why did you lead me on for so long, and then go and date Wade?”
“You’re hurting me.” Kiki looked down at her wrist.
She was relieved when he let go of her wrist, and she took advantage of the opportunity to jump up and put some space between them. The ringing of her cellphone had Joshua shooting up from his seat.
“I should get that, it’s probably Leena. She said she was going to call when she got home,” Kiki said, keeping her eye on Joshua as she reached for her cellphone.
“Hey, Leena.” Kiki tried to steady her voice. “Can you hold on a second? Joshua is leaving.”
“Oh, he’s still there? Sweetie, do you want me to call you back?” Leena asked.
“Oh no, it’ll just be a second, hold on.”
Kiki covered the phone as she gave Joshua a pointed look before eyeing the door. Taking the hint, Joshua headed for the door and let himself out without another word. Kiki rushed to the door, locking it behind him.
“Kiki… Hey, Kiki! You still there?” The concern in Leena’s voice wasn’t missed.
“Yeah, I’m still here.”
“Is everything okay? You sound funny. I can come back over and stay with you, I mean it.”
“No, no.” Kiki let out a heavy sigh. “Everything’s fine, I’m just tired. I’m gonna go take a hot shower.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Try and get some rest too. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“All right, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Just know that I’m here for you, my sweet Kiki.”
“Thank you.” Kiki held back the croak of emotion in her throat before pushing the end button.
Adrenaline seared through her body, her chest expanding and contracting almost painfully as she gasped for air. What the fuck just happened! Had she just been attacked? No, he’s a friend, he just had the wrong idea. Right? Kiki tried to convince herself, but in honesty she wasn’t sure she could have gotten him to leave without a fight if Leena hadn’t called.
Kiki opened the door and peaked down the hallway to make sure he’d left. She breathed a sigh of relief when there was no one out there. Locking the door again, she headed to take that hot shower she needed now more than ever. She needed to burn his touch off her skin.
Another great reason to go to work tomorrow! You did this all to yourself. She allowed her thoughts to beat her up.