As Kai wondered why everyone in his life seemed to be acting strangely, he got ready for his day. Maybe it was just the distance that was making everyone so odd. His parents were used to seeing him every day. His grandmother was used to not seeing him at all. Surely, they were all just reacting to the strangeness of their new situation. Kai knew he was.
Locking up his apartment, Kai headed down to his bike in the garage. He was going to do a little shopping before meeting up with Jessie, pick up those long johns she’d suggested, or something similar. And maybe he would find something to surprise her with while he was out. It was the least he could do, since she was always surprising him with nice things.
Kai smiled as he climbed onto his bike. He suddenly knew just what he could get her.
Jessie was pacing, and anxious nerves were coursing through her body as she watched the clock on the living room wall get closer and closer to five o’clock. She had no idea why, but in a moment of weakness, she’d asked Kai to come over for dinner. It wasn’t a good idea, but her roommates would have to meet him eventually. Her friends were just too much a part of her life for that not to happen. The girls frequently hung out together or stayed home together. Living with her best friends was a bit stifling at times, but the girls were close, and it would be really odd if Jessie kept keeping her newly-in-town cousin away.
She really didn’t know if her friends would remember Kai or not, and just the thought of them discovering what she’d done with him had her stomach in a tangled snarl. God, they’d be sick if they knew. Jessie put both palms on her stomach as she walked around the spacious room. It still made her feel sick, and she’d had over a week to come to terms with the fact.
Her home was filled with the smell of a roast simmering away in her crockpot. Jessie hadn’t known what to make Kai for dinner, but pot-roast had seemed like a good choice; it screamed comfort food to her. If Kai was feeling a little homesick, and he had to be on some level, then maybe the meal would remind him of his mom. Assuming she’d made the same meals for him that Jessie’s mom had made for her, of course.
Jessie wasn’t sure, since she hadn’t ever heard much about Kai’s mom. For some reason, no one in the family really talked about her. Jessie didn’t know the details, but apparently, her divorce from Uncle Nate had been a nasty one. Kai still seemed to be close to both parents though, and his mom and dad still worked together, so some small level of respect must still be present between them. Jessie didn’t want to ask Kai about his parents though. It felt too…intrusive.
Her stomach rumbled as she ran her hands through her ringlets. She’d spent longer than she cared to admit taming her hair into distinct, defined curls, instead of the wild, out of control mess it could easily fall into sometimes. She hoped Kai liked it. Sometimes she caught him staring at her hair; he usually smiled when he did. A wistful sigh escaped Jessie. She shouldn’t care if a boy liked her hair. This wasn’t a date. This was her cousin coming over for dinner, nothing more.
Just as she was about to check on the potatoes roasting in the oven, April sauntered into the room. Her long black hair was luxurious, shiny, and super-straight. Sometimes Jessie wished she had her friend’s hair. Her kinky mess could be so frustrating at times.
“Hey,” April stated, as she sat on the couch and crossed her ankles. She was wearing a miniskirt with black boots that almost went past her knees. The skin showing between her knee and the skirt’s short hemline was lean and trim, and for a second, Jessie wished for her friend’s slim figure. Jessie’s curvier physique wouldn’t have pulled off the look nearly as well.
Tucking a dark strand behind her ear, April looked over to the kitchen. “Can I help with anything?”
Jessie smiled and shook her head. “Harm beat you to it. She’s already in there making a salad.”
From the kitchen both girls heard, “A kick-ass salad!”
April laughed and rolled her eyes. Jessie thought again of checking on the potatoes, but April spoke before she could excuse herself. “You okay?”
Jessie threw on an unworried smile as she looked around to make sure everything was neat and tidy. It was. She’d spent all afternoon making sure of it. “Yep, I just want everything to be perfect for Kai.” Not sure how that sounded, she added, “He’s a long way from home, and I want to make sure he feels welcomed.” Suddenly feeling lame, she shrugged.
April gave her a crooked grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he feels plenty welcomed.”
Jessie frowned at her friend’s suggestive comment. She really didn’t want April entertaining him in that way, but she also didn’t have a say in the matter. April was an adult, Kai was an adult…and both of them were single. Placing her hands on her hips in a teasing stance that was obviously not meant to be serious—although, in Jessie’s mind, it completely was—she told April, “You stay away from him. He’s family, not a plaything.”