“Nah, not every day.” He’s not wrong, I do push the time a little when I stay with Kate, but I feel like that’s not really something he’d want to know. “Besides, I show up with food.”
I hold the box of donuts in front of him. “Which is why I don’t say anything.” He places the box on the work table and glances around. “Is there enough for Paula? Last time she didn’t get any and I felt bad.”
“Yes, there’s plenty.” After that incident, I started adding another half dozen. “What do I have on the docket for today?”
“It’s actually not too bad.” Kai pulls his phone out of his pocket. He scrolls for a minute. “There aren’t any holidays right now so orders are slowing down some. They’ll pick up again once we get close to Mother’s Day. Of course, we’re going to need you to work more weekends soon.”
“Wedding season?” Before working here, I never would have known that’s a thing.
“Yep.” Kai double checks his phone. “This will be my first one working here, but I already know it’s going to be a doozy. Between Spencer’s wedding and all the new clients they’ve had the past few months, we’ll be lucky to have a weekend off.”
“That’s fine with me. More hours means a better apartment.”
“Oh, you’re still looking for one?” He seems confused as to why I’d say that.
“Yeah. I’ve found some in my price range, but they aren’t that great. There’s one I’m on the short list for, but it’s not guaranteed. Also, the rent is higher than I want to spend.” I didn’t tell Kate all that. It’s one thing she doesn’t need to worry about.
“Oh, no,” Kai shakes his head, “I assumed you’d already moved in with my sister since you’re over there so much.”
“She’s not ready for that. I’m going at the pace she sets.”
“Smart move.” He glances around. Why do I have a feeling whatever he’s about to say, he doesn’t want other ears to overhear it? “Look, I know Kate met your parents, and I th?—”
He doesn’t get to finish whatever he was about to say because Kate walks in and stands beside me. “You think what?”
“I think it’s awesome you met his parents.” Kai runs a hand through is hair and chews on his lip. That’s not what he was going to say, and I know he’s feeling some sort of guilt.
“I do, too.” She glares at him. There’s no way I’m getting in the middle of whatever fight they are having. I don’t have siblings, but from what I’ve heard disagreements can be intense.
Kai shoves his phone in his pocket. “I’m gonna go grab your delivery tickets.”
“Thanks, man. Make sure to leave some donuts for Paula.” Once he leaves, I turn toward Kate. “What was that about?”
Her focus is on anything but me. Whatever they are arguing about, she doesn’t want to tell me. Which means…it has something to do with me. I grab her hand to get her attention.
“Fine,” she mutters, “Kai thinks because I met your parents, you need to meet ours. He said it’s unfair and that I need to grow up.”
“Why don’t you want me to meet them?” It doesn’t take much guess work, but I’ll give her a chance to voice her thoughts.
“Because I don’t have the best relationship with them.” She ticks off one finger. “Because everything I do, they have to criticize. And our age difference will give them something to harp on me about for ages.”
I could not imagine having that sort of animosity toward my parents. They get on my nerves but they always have my best interests at heart and show it in loving ways. Come to think of it, I don’t think they’ve ever criticized anything I want to do. If anything, they’ve encouraged me, but were there to catch me if things didn’t pan out.
“If that’s what you want, then I won’t pressure you to meet them.” Now, I know how Kai was going to finish that sentence, and I wish he wouldn’t interfere. Not everyone has the same relationship with their parents within a household. “What happens between us, and who you share it with, is our business…nobody else’s.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” I notice Kai watching us from the hallway.
“Letting me make up my own mind about us and my parents. For now, I want to keep everything as separate as possible. I hope that will change one day, but right now…I don’t see it happening.”
Leaning forward I give her a quick peck on the forehead. I’ve learned minimal PDA at work is okay with her. “I better get to my deliveries. If not, you’ll have angry customers.”
“Yeah, I need to get ready for our meeting in a few hours.”
I didn’t know she had a meeting. She just had one yesterday. “With the same bride?”
“Nope,” she laughs, “this time it’s with the ones who started this whole circus. They are in town to visit Stella and Johnny, and wanted to meet with us.”
