AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not officially, no. But Kai, my relationship with him is irrelevant.” Although, I feel like I’m digging a bigger hole. “I don’t want you to think I made a choice between you two.”
“It kinda sounds like it. You chose him, didn’t you?”
“He was the only one, Kai,” I say with as much care as possible, but needing to be blunt. And that obviously works.
“Got it,” he replies with a dejected look on his face.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, aware that it probably sounds trite and meaningless.
“I should get going.” Kai stands. “Take care, Jazz.”
“You too.”
I watch him leave, his head lowered and his demeanour lacking its usual swagger.
I push aside the sharp twinges of guilt and focus on the fact that I had been honest with him, and hope that maybe, in time, after everything comes out, we can find a way to be friends.
“All done?” Zay asks, entering my bedroom to find me sealing up the box.
I’d packed four grey and white decorative pillows and a pale pink throw for the couch, a few cherished photos of Zay and my mom, a table lamp adorned with gem accents, a small plant for the kitchen, and my essential oils and diffuser. Just enough to create a sense of home without overwhelming Leo.
“Pretty much.” I straighten and stretch out my back.
“Still feeling down about Kai?”
“A little. I mean, it went as well as could be expected, but I still sensed he was more upset than he let on. At first, I thought I’d hurt him, but the more I reflect on it, I think he felt insulted.”
“That’s his ego, Baby Girl, and his stuff to work out. You told him the truth with kindness; that’s all you can do.”
“A half-truth. He still doesn’t know about Leo.”
“That’s for Leo to tell.”
“I know. Leo was just glad that the meeting hadn’t been a disaster for me. But I’m worried it will be a disaster for them.”
“It’s out of your hands now.”
“You’re right.” I breathe out the negative energy and inhale the positive with affirming thoughts. “I’m excited about this week with Leo.” My heart flutters. “It’s the first time I’ll be sharing living space with a man.”
“Excuse me?” Zay feigns offense. “What am I, a speck of dust?”
“More like a shimmering sparkle,” I reply with a grin. “You know what I mean, Zay. I truly want this to work with Leo.”
“I’m rooting for you, Baby Girl.”
“I know you are, but I honestly thought you were going to flip out over how fast this is happening.”
“Not gonna lie, I was like, ‘Uh-uh’ in my head when you told me, but it’s how they do it onLove is Blind. After the couples are formed in a really short time-frame, they go out in the real world and live together to see if they can deal with each other’s day-to-day shit.”
I glare at him for using a reality show as a guide on my relationship.
“What?” Zay shrugs. “It’s a valid point. You can never truly know someone until you’ve seen the non-sexy parts.”
“Leo doesn’t have any non-sexy parts,” I protest, defending my man.
“Let’s see how you feel after you’ve picked up wet towels from the bathroom floor and fallen into the toilet a few times.”
I burst out laughing. Those are my pet peeves. But if wet towels and leaving the seat up are Leo’s worst flaws, I’ll be just fine.
