“What’s really bothering you, besides your fake cough? I don’t need to be hearing to know that wasn’t real.”
She scowled at me and I kissed her nose. She was smiling when I pulled back. “What if they hate me? What if we tell them we’re together, and they don’t approve? What if they hate me?”
“Oh, baby. No one could ever hate you.” She rolled her eyes, but I continued. “I’m serious, Kai. You know my parents love you, and they’ve thought we were together this whole time. It won’t be a shock to them, and they are not going to hate you. If they do, then we deal with it, okay?”
She pouted. “That is not helpful, Daisy.”
I laughed. “Please relax. Trust me, they will not hate you. You’re the favorite. If anything, they will hate me for corrupting their good daughter.”
“You spend too much time around Drea. Is she teaching a drama class I don’t know about?”
I nudged her shoulder and smiled. “You’re funny. Are you ready to go?”
She visibly sighed and nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Want me to help you relax before we go? We don’t have a lot of time, but I can be quick and effective.” I winked.
“As… amazing as that sounds, I’m going to decline. The last thing that would help me relax is sitting through a dinner knowing their daughter had just made me come. It’s bad enough I’ll be trying not to think about how fast we can get back home. Let’s go, horn dog.”
She grabbed me by the belt loop of my jeans and brought our mouths together. My hands instantly went to her waist, and I was tempted to text my parents and cancel our plans. All I wanted was to stay home and do exactly what we were doing.
I pouted all the way to their house when she ended the kiss. Her hand on my leg as she drove softened me a little, but I was being stubborn, so I couldn’t show weakness. Until we stopped at a red light and she leaned over to brush a piece of hair behind my ear before kissing my neck. Then I couldn’t stay mad anymore.
“Cheater,” I said, but there was no bite to it. She winked and carried on driving, as if I wasn’t a horny mess beside her.
“So, girls, what’s new with you? How’s work going?” my mother asked as I was finishing the little bit of mashed potatoes on my plate.
I looked toward Kaia, who raised her eyebrow and nodded to me like she wanted me to answer. It would’ve been easier for her to say it since she could talk, but I understood why she wanted me to tell them. They were my parents after all, and even though I swore they loved her more than they loved me, Kaia wasn’t comfortable enough to share this news with them.
I put down my fork and brought my hands up. “Work is good. The store is still doing amazing after the renovations. Kaia’s office is almost ready, and we’re dating. How’s it going with you?”
“I’m sorry. What was that?” My mom’s eyes couldn’t have gotten any brighter than if she actually lay on the sun.
I smiled. “You know what I said. Kaia and I are dating.”
She clapped and ran over to hug Kaia, who almost fell out of her chair. My dad smiled but didn’t try to knock us over, thank goodness.
My mother showered us both with hugs and kisses before asking me to help her clear the table. I groaned but obeyed anyway. I reached for Kaia’s wrist and squeezed it three times before I kissed her on the cheek and stood up to compile all the dishes.
When we got into the kitchen, I barely had time to put the dishes inthe sink before my mother asked me every question in her brain. “Okay, tell me. When did it happen? Where did it happen? Tell me everything!”
I made a face and shook my head. “Mom! Calm down. It happened at Drea’s Christmas party. Before Christmas. I’m not telling youeverything.”
“Right in time for Christmas? How romantic! How did it happen?”
I rolled my eyes and told her the clean version of the party. The kiss, our conversation, the next day when we decided to give things a real try. She smiled the entire time, and honestly, I did too. I couldn’t help it.
My life had been amazing since I’d met Kaia, but dating her had transported me onto a cloud. I found myself getting tingly on the inside more often than not, and at all hours of the day, I’d think about her or just want to always be near her.
“I’m so happy for you, baby. You know your father and I love Kaia. She’s been good for you. You are more outgoing when she’s around, and you smile more. I love to see you two together.”
“Thank you. I really like her, Mom.”
She smiled. “Oh, honey. I can tell. Long before tonight, I could tell there was something going on and you two hadn’t figured it out yet. But why now? You two have had eyes for each other since I’ve known you and Kaia together.”
I groaned. Mothers always sensed things like that. Kaia did say she’d liked me for a while, so maybe my mom was right, although I’d never tell her that. My feelings hadn’t just started, either, but I didn’t know what they were, exactly, or I didn’t acknowledge them until recently.
“It’s complicated, mom. We are best friends, and I don’t know her reasoning, but I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, and after my last relationship, I didn’t want that rejection and I didn’t want to get hurt again.”
