“I might start to think you’re stalking me.” I readjust the strap of my purse as I cross the almost empty parking lot.
“Me?” Kai straightens his long body leaning against the passenger side of my car. His smile somehow manages to be as bright in the dimly lit parking lot as it was beneath the fluorescent lights inside. “You’re the one who keeps showing up where I work. I think I’m the one who might need to worry.”
Welp. He’s not wrong.
“The first two times were all Ella, I was merely an innocent bystander.” It’s a weak defense, but it’s all I have.
“Then what was tonight?” His voice is thicker than the wet Miami air.
“A coincidence?” I struggle to keep my steps and my voice even and calm as I approach him and the space between us closes. “Or maybe another setup? You didn’t tell me you taught here.”
I’m a fairly confident person. I’ve held meetings with men who questioned whether I deserved to be in the room with them. I’m friends with some of the smartest, most beautiful humans in the world and I don’t feel small around them. Even when Vaughn played in the NFL, I was able to hold my head high at his side. So the way my voice wavers and tension wraps its claws around my throat is a new feeling for me.
It’s terrifying.
And it’s also really exciting.
Because for the first time in maybe forever, I feel like I’m doing something just for me. Forget what anybody else has to say about it.
Kai peels away from my car and walks around to meet me on the driver’s side, and he doesn’t slow down when he reaches me. He slams into me, wrapping his arms around my waist and spins me around. I clasp my hands behind his neck and burrow my head into his chest, letting the laughter escape from my lips.
“I didn’t set you up and it’s definitely not coincidence.” He stops spinning and tightens his grip on my hips as he steadies me on my feet. “It’s fate.”
“Fate?” I repeat. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” His dimples deepen and he doesn’t seem the least bit offended by my reaction. It’s so refreshing to be around someone who is happy and carefree and doesn’t need me to agree with him all the time and isn’t looking for a reason to argue. “And now I think fate is calling for us to go on a real date.”
“A real date? Like to the movies?” I haven’t been asked on a date in so long that I’m not sure I even know what this means anymore.
“Dinner, a movie, an art class,” he says, amusement written all over his face. “We can do whatever we want.”
The first thought that crosses my mind is no.
I really like Kai, but what are the chances this will lead to anything other than more distractions, more deviations from The Plan? Maybe I should just keep my head down and focus on work.
The old me would have said no. But you know what? The old me wouldn’t even be here right now. I might not have joined a dating show, but Delilah isn’t the only person making changes to her life.
Not anymore.
“Yeah, that could be nice.” I try my hardest to sound as cool and nonchalant as possible, but I think the way I’m gnawing on my bottom lip and clinging on to his neck so hard I’m sure my fingerprints are indented onto his skin might give me away.
“Yes? Really?” He sounds surprised that I agreed and it takes every ounce of restraint in my body not to kiss the excited expression off his hot freaking face.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak without blabbing about how much I like him. He doesn’t push for more. He releases my hips and links our hands. The quiet hum of music and energy that seems ever present in Miami fills the comfortable silence between us. The stars that always seem muted by the bright city lights sparkle above us almost as vividly as the glitter Sofia shared with me, like they too are invested in the universe’s plan for the two of us.
I try to tamp down the ridiculous thrill I get when Kai opens my car door for me.
“What day works best for you?” His body fills my doorway as I try to buckle my seatbelt with trembling fingers. He’s not a big man by any means, but something about him is huge, all encompassing…and I can’t see past him.
“I’m free most nights, what about you?” I don’t want to admit that my plans pretty much only consist of hanging out with my little sister and work. I have to give the impression that I’m at least semicool.
He reaches into my car, and almost as if he doesn’t realize he’s doing it, tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. My hearts stutters at the simple gesture.
“I know you’re busy. Why don’t you check your schedule and let me know what works best for you? I can rearrange my stuff and make it work.”
And if I didn’t think I could handle any more, my heart explodes at his words.
At a certain point in my relationship with Vaughn, he not only stopped putting me first, but he stopped prioritizing us at all. There were days where I felt like he expected me to be his secretary, penciling in time for us because he couldn’t be bothered to make the effort to look at his schedule. I did it without complaint because I was trying to make the relationship work and thought that he would eventually return the effort. He just never did. I forgot that this is the way it is supposed to be.
“I really like you,” I blurt out, not able or wanting to hold it in. “I really didn’t want to, especially because I’m pretty sure getting us together was Ella’s plan all along and she will never let me live this down. But you’re so hot that it’s bordering on offensive and it’s so nice that it is offensive. I’m not sure I understand why or how you’re still single, and part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop because there has to be something wrong with you. You can’t just be this hot, kind, glassblowing chef who works with kids in his free time, right? Are you a secret serial killer? Not that you would tell me if you were…but are you?”
Okay.
So.
It could be said that I didn’t mean to tell him all of that.
I feel the heat rise in my face as the silence between us stretches on…and on…and on. I’m about to take it all back and blame it on paint fumes or something when, without warning, Kai’s mouth collides with mine.
All thoughts dissipate and I’m only left with feeling.
I twist in my seat, ignoring the pain that shoots up my arm when my elbow slams into my steering wheel as I dig my fingers into Kai’s hair. Instead, I focus on the electricity flowing through my veins as it gathers between my legs and the heaviness of my breasts under the weight of Kai as he leans into me.
His touch is urgent and I know I’m not the only person who’s been dreaming about this. His mouth is frantic against mine, tasting and exploring in the darkness of the parking lot. One of his hands clutches the back of my head as he holds my face to his and tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth while the other fumbles with my seatbelt buckle until I’m free.
I haven’t kissed many people in my life, but I don’t need experience to tell me that this kiss is freaking amazing. Extraordinary. There’s no sloppiness as my mouth opens and he takes full advantage. His tongue finds mine, twisting and taking charge, finding the perfect rhythm as our bodies connect. It’s like we’ve been doing this forever.
He’s in control of the moment, but there’s no pressure. His free hand slips beneath the hem of my modest work dress, the pads of his fingertips digging into the back of my thighs enough to make them clench, but he doesn’t try to go any further…even though I might actually want him to. We may be making out in my car like teenagers, but that doesn’t mean he’s not kissing me like a grown-ass man.
I’m not in control of myself as I writhe under his hard body, wanting more of this. But when my legs are pretty much pinned beneath my steering wheel, it becomes very obvious why people stop kissing in cars as soon as they are old enough to find better locations.
“Jesus,” he says when we finally manage to break apart. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” I can just hear him over my pounding heart and rapid breath.
“How do you make me more into you every single time you open that gorgeous mouth of yours?”
Ho. Ly. Shit.
My mouth, which has never been referred to as gorgeous before, falls open and stays that way until I come up with my very eloquent response. “What?”
Kai scans my face and his expression changes from one of amusement to one of pure determination.
“I really like you too.” The admission is so quiet I’m almost about to convince myself that I made it up…that this is some sort of break in reality and I’m going to wake up at any moment. “You’re smart and beyond beautiful. You seem almost unattainable and you go off on wild tangents about dolphins. You let a little girl you’ve never met before drag you around an art studio and listened intently as she talked your ear off about glitter. You pretend your sister is constantly annoying you, but it’s clear to everyone around you how much you love her. You’re too good for me, but fuck if that doesn’t stop me from wanting you more.”
My breath hitches as I try to process everything he just said to me.
Nobody…nobody…has ever spoken to me like that before. Not even Vaughn, in the height of our relationship, saw me the way I think Kai sees me. There’s no pressure to be anyone except who I want to be when I’m with him. I don’t need to prove I deserve a promotion or that I’m a responsible daughter. When I’m with him, I’m free of expectations.
I’m free to be me.
He’s the first person, in maybe forever, who sees me for the person I want to be. I lean forward, eager to resume the kissing we ended much too soon, when my phone begins to ring.
Ella’s name flashes bright on the screen in my car.
“What was that you said about me loving Ella?” My voice is almost unrecognizable to my own ears in the best way ever. “Living with her can be a serious buzzkill.”
I think about ignoring her call, but decide against it when I remember that she will just keep calling until I finally answer.
“Hello, Ella,” I say. “How can I help you tonight?”
“What the hell, My?” Ella, my sweet sister, doesn’t even bother with pleasantries. “I know you’re excited about the promotion or whatever, but this is insanity! Are you ever coming home? Are you just going to forgo your mortgage and move into work? You’re giving me a complex. I know we have different interests, but I know I’m more exciting than a damn financial report!”
Kai, bless his heart, is trying his hardest to stay quiet, but I can feel his body vibrating with laughter. “Do you see now that rambling is a family trait?” I ask.
“What? Wait…” Ella says, her loud voice echoing in my car. “Am I on speakerphone? Who are you talking to? Are you not at work? Why—”
“That’s a lot of questions, let me answer those first.” I cut her off because again, I know how the rambling thing plays out. “Yes, you are on speakerphone, I’m talking to Kai, and no, I’m not at work.”
I answer her questions in order, watching as Kai stops laughing and something much different settles over his face.
When Kai and I first exchanged numbers, I made it very clear I didn’t want Ella to know. I didn’t know what was going to happen between us, but I knew Ella being involved and adding pressure—however well intended—wouldn’t be helpful. Being secretive was fun—and kind of sexy—but I don’t want to hide anymore. I want to enjoy this man anytime I can and I don’t care if the whole world knows it.
“Wait…Wait!” Ella repeats, only about twenty times louder. “Did you just say you’re with Kai? My Kai?”
“I don’t think he’s anyone’s Kai, but after the way he just kissed me, I’m pretty sure he’s more mine than yours.” I know what I’m doing when I say the words, so I’m prepared when her high-pitched scream explodes through my speakers.
“Oh my god! I knew it! After the gallery, you looked all kinds of smitten and blushy! I knew it!” she keeps screaming. “Kai, you’re supposed to be my friend. How could you not tell me?”
“Sorry.” Kai pulls away from me and I miss the feel of him immediately. “You know I love you, but I had to do as asked.”
“Fine.” Ella groans, but I can tell her heart’s not in it. “I guess this is good for Maya so she can finally see what a decent man who isn’t a giant—”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I say, cutting her off again. “Thanks for calling. I’ll see you when I get home.”
“Maya, no! I’m sorry, bring fo—” I hang up before she can finish her sentence. Kai looks at me as I drop the phone back down onto the seat.
“Don’t worry, I know she wants more Cuban food anyway.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him back to me. “Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?”
He doesn’t need to be prompted any further, and outside of my art class, in the front seat of my car, I prove to myself that growth and change can be a lot of fun.