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The room is quaint, with some tables and a few scattered couches in different jewel tones. There’s a gigantic fireplace with a roaring fire that must feel great during the cold weather, and I order a coffee and one of the cheese danishes before finding a seat at the window. I know I am going to like it here.
“Laina?” I turn when I hear Kyle’s voice from the entrance. He’s smiling at me, looking fantastic in jeans and a tight forest green Henley that shows off his physique perfectly.
Oh, my.
“Good morning. Did you run out of coffee like me?” I ask as he chuckles and walks over to me.
“This is my favorite place to just get a cup and relax a little. Often, I’ll get some work done or just read after a crazy week.” Kyle asks if I’ve ordered and walks over to get something of his own, looking disappointed when I tell him it’s on the way.
He had already bought me lunch despite my protests. I am not the girl to take advantage of his wealth.
“Do you work on the weekends?” I ask as he sits down with both our cups, settling into the maroon couch.
“A lot of the time I do when there’s an important project or a client meeting that can’t be rescheduled for the week.” He sips his coffee, letting out a happy sigh after he swallows it. “I try to get some down time when I can, though. I remember how much my father worked over the years, and I don’t want to look back and have the same life down the line. Not completely.” Our eyes lock, and I nod.
“I agree. I just want to work my job and try to see what this city has to offer me.” He smiles as though he has an idea, as I keep staring.
“Maybe we should take a few hours and sightsee. There’s some cool stuff here.” He suggests, and I nod easily.
“I’d love that. I’ve just been here over a month, and it’s been crazy.” He tilts his head at me as I smile.
“Where do you live? Nearby?” he asks, and I nod with a smile.
“I have an apartment a couple of blocks to the left. It’s a two-bedroom for when people visit me and nice to start. I might find something different down the line, but we’ll see. You?” I ask as Kyle winces.
“Mom helped with house hunting. By that, I mean she picked the house for me and the decorator. It has a gorgeous view of the water, but I need to make it my own.” He offers me an apologetic look as I smile sympathetically at him. “Want to trade?”
“I’m good, but thanks. I have a distant view of the water that works for me.” I smile and glance up as someone brings my pastry to me. “Thanks.”
“Let me guess. Cream cheese?” Kyle asks as I break out into a giggle. “I remember those bars your mom used to make us.”
“The cream cheese bars with chocolate chips on top. She still makes those every Christmas for me.” My face fell as I looked down at the danish. “I just realized I might not be back this year. I won’t have enough vacation time as a new employee and… wow. It just hit me I moved.”
“We’ll figure something out. I actually close the office during the week of Christmas, so everyone has the chance to be with their families. It’s not impossible, Laina.” He watches as I lift my eyes to his. “Don’t worry.”
“You can’t show me favoritism, Kyle. People will hate that.” I sniffle and cut off a piece of my breakfast.
“It’s not favoritism. It’s seeing your family like we all want to do.” He sips his coffee, and I glance at him.
“Did you order food?” I ask, and he glances up.
“A breakfast sandwich. I don’t have the sweet tooth I used to by choice. I’m not in eighth grade anymore.” Kyle chuckles as someone brings him a plate.
“I do yoga at home so I can enjoy this stuff. I get it. Not that I’m not curvy, but I like that.” I did. I have no qualms about myself, though I wonder how Kyle sees me now.
“You look incredible, Laina. I thought that the moment I saw you.” He tells me as I smile my thanks.
“My hair was more of a dark blond back then. How did you recognize me so quickly?” I ask as he sips his coffee.
“Those eyes are a dead giveaway. I remember the way you used to look at me when you were trying to get an answer out of me.” Kyle laughs as he reaches for his sandwich. “It’s like they burned right through me.”
We chat over breakfast and coffee, and I feel everything keep falling into place with us. After twelve years, how is that possible? I suppose we’re basically the same people just older and we always got along so well since meeting in kindergarten. Kyle hasn’t changed that much, at least with me.
“What are your plans for this weekend?” Kyle asks as we clean up our table when we’re done.
“I am going to phone home when I get home, but nothing more. You?”
He laughs at my ET reference. It was a favorite movie of ours when we were little. “I am going to my parent’s place, and I have a date tonight. I’m not looking forward to it.” He looks outside for a moment. “I can free up some time next weekend to take you around Seattle, if you want.”
