“Yeah,” I say. “It seems like they are.”
“It does indeed.” Innuendo coats his words. “Last question before we let you go. Kai is just outside this room, waiting patiently to walk through that magic bookcase with you. Duringhisturn in confession corner, we asked if there was anything that might keep him from getting back together with you.”
A knot of nausea rolls through my gut.
“So now it’s time to ask you that very same thing. And don’t worry, our little box is soundproof. Let’s do it this way. I’ll start the sentence, andyouend it.“I could never get back together with Kai if…”
I nod, knowing just how to fill in that blank. “If he couldn’t take full responsibility for what he’s done,” I say. “It’s important to me that Kai realizes thatheisthe reason it ended between us, not me.”
“You’re saying that if he refused to takesoleresponsibility, you wouldnotwant to work at the relationship?” Colt asks.
I don’t love that he adds the wordsole,because when he puts it that way, it makes me sound rigid and selfish. But the truth is, I spent over five years struggling with this. I blamed myself over and over, and the only thing that ever brought me an ounce of validation was the fact that I warned Kai it would be over upfront. And he still left.
“Yes,” I finally say with a nod. “That’s what I’m saying.”
Colt huffs out a breath. “My, my, my. Okay, Ms. Nikki wicki woo woo, it’s time for you to shoo shoo off to your next date. And lucky for you, you get to wear the ensemble you have on your very own bod, which, I must say, is much better than the romper.”
“Thanks.” I come to a stand, huff out a breath of my own, and try to figure out what part of that encounter rubbed me so wrong. It doesn’t take long to pinpoint it—I didn’t like going on record about where I’d draw my line.
Sure, I feel justified, but having it out there like that will only make me look like a fool if I accept anything less. Now it won’t be just Nate that will give me crap over it; all of our old classmates and everyone tuning into the show will too. I’ll be forced to stick to my guns no matter how much Kai softens me up.
Kai is not trying to soften you up, Nikki.
I step out of the video diary room and see Kai leaning a muscled forearm along the doorframe. He breaks into a slow and easy grin. “Hey, babe.”
He is too trying to soften me up.
“All done?” he asks.
I feel the guilt on my face as I nod.
Kai holds his elbow out to me. “We’re off to see the wizard?”
I grin and loop a hand around the crook in his arm. “Close enough.” In truth, we have no idea what’s in store for us today.
We make our way through the tall bookcase and stop short. It looks like we walked onto the set of a sitcom. No wonder they kept us away from this part of the house yesterday; they’d been busy building a massive set. It’s like looking into a two-story dollhouse. There are bedrooms, a kitchen, a family room, and a bathroom that would not offer any privacy since it lacked a wall on one side.
“Oh, thank heavens you’re here,” hollers a panting Colt Findley as he tears onto the scene in a rush. He’s wearing a business suit again, though it’s hard to see with the diaper bag, baby blankets, and burping cloths draped over him.
“I thought you two would never come.” He hoists the diaper bag off his shoulder and shoves it at me. Next, he takes one of the baby blankets and proceeds to wrap it around Kai’s neck like a scarf. Colt transfers the burping cloths—at least a dozen of them—by draping them along my forearms and then Kai’s.
“The twins are upstairs asleep, but they won’t be asleep for long. Their food’s in the kitchen. I’ll be back when I’m back…” With that, Colt dashes back through the door.
I look over at Kai with wide eyes. “Twins?”
Kai pulls a cringe face. “Hopefully, they’re notreal.”
“They’re probably just those lifelike babies they give you in child development class,” I say.
We walk cautiously toward the front room part of the home. Kai looks cute with all of the pink, frilly fabric on him. We make it to the couches and take a seat. I glance awkwardly about the house, feeling as if I’m carrying a lot more than all the baby stuff Colt draped over me.
There’s unseen baggage clinging to me as well. And I wonder how I’ll get it off my chest.
“There’s our trusty old box,” Kai says, breaking into my thoughts.
I glance down to see the couples counseling box we dug into yesterday sitting on the table. I’m instantly aware of the powers of that box. I set my eyes on it before looking at Kai. A memory of his heavenly mouth sends a thrill of anticipation through me.
“I wonder if they took away the cards we already used,” Kai says with a lifted brow.
