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Kira doesn’t get to back out that easily, not when she’s just accused me of being wasteful based on my socioeconomic status. “I forgot that you are literally perfect and never make mistakes. My fault.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then why are you accusing me of being awasteful billionaire?We deal with tech, not oil or –”
“Tech can be wasteful! Being plugged in all the time. I mean, crypto is responsible for one percent of the world’s –”
“Kira, I assure you that me leaving a light on is very negligible in its impact on climate change.”
She grunts in frustration. For a moment, it’s almost cute, the way her creaseless forehead deepens in the middle.Almost.
“You’re impossible.”
“Need I remind you thatyou’rethe one who wanted to waste energy on making the house as hot as the equator.”
Kira crosses her arms over her chest. “Fine. That’s fair.”
I merely blink at her. I didn’t expect her to back down so easily. Or be willing to accept her own fault. When it comes to the people I deal with on a day-to-day basis, admitting you’re wrong is seen as a weakness. But I don’t see that as a weakness in Kira.
I see that as a strength.
“Well, try not to leave the lights on, alright?” she says softly, adjusting her glasses.
“I’ll do my best not to forget.”
Kira stares at me for a prolonged moment, almost like her eyes are trying to see my soul. I shift uncomfortably in my seat. Don’t want anyone seeingthat.
“Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your reading.” She slips back inside before I can utter a thank you.
When I open the book again, I can’t seem to focus on the words. They’re all mushing together, swirling through my head. There is no meaning behind them.
I give up on the book and look out across the property. Overhead the mountains cut through the sky like giants.
And for just that one second, I wish someone was here to enjoy the view with me.
Maybe even Kira.
7
KIRA
“Mmph.”
My ears perk up when Orlie sighs from the kitchen. I knew I should have made sure to close the office door all the way because now I can hear him padding and clinking around.
“Mmph.”
Andsighing.
A clatter of a pan, the running of water. Too much frenetic noise to remain focused on my work.
I lean back in my chair and close my eyes.Deep breath.
“You are water,” I murmur to myself. “You exist in all states. You can persevere in all climates. You will –”
My meditative mantras I picked up from Gillian are interrupted by another sigh, accompanied by a soft, “Fuck.”
I snap my eyes back open as my lower half feels a shock out of my control. The way Orlie’s mouth wrapped around that word was so devastatingly perfect, it was as if I was watching an erotic film.
