Ilena says, “Oh, he’s not—”
“Go for the chicken,” Kai says, looking at Aubrey. “It’s playful.”
In between each bite of chicken is a slice of hard-boiled egg. The sex high Aubrey had been floating on deflates likea popped balloon, and she’s overwhelmed with the desire to apologize, to even go back in time, to not open the door and let Ethan in. But that’s absurd because Ethan is her fiancé and Kai is an employee whom she barely knows.
Ethan snorts and waves Felix over, pointing at the skewer. “Chicken and the egg. Total dad joke.” He gives a little bow to Felix. “Seems you are ready, my friend.”
Felix slaps Ethan on the back, and he’s the one who “introduces” Ilena and Mallory to Aubrey’s dead-but-not-dead fiancé who does a double take at Ilena’s stunning blue eyes and Mallory’s stilt-like legs. And really, who can blame him? Certainly not Aubrey, who still feels the same awe, all these years later.
Ethan takes his phone out of his pocket and exchanges contact information with Felix, which feels more awkward than Aubrey thinks it should. More small talk ensues, and Kai slips deeper into the living room. Aubrey waits for a pause in the compliments on the harbor view and exposed beams, mumbles something about being hungry, and follows Kai. He’s setting the appetizers down on the coffee table when a bundle of apricot fur leaps up.
“Harley!” Aubrey says, to which Noreen suddenly materializes.
“Sorry, y’all, my fault, my fault.” Noreen scoops up the dog. “I’m the dog whisperer tonight. Or supposed to be!”
Aubrey smiles apologetically. “Mallory appreciates it. We all do, especially with it being such short notice.”
“It’s an honor, Ms. Miller, truly. To be included... squad goals, right?” She beams and spins to face the windows. “This view, I mean, I’ve just got to get a closer look.” She plucks a chicken skewer, hands a shrimp one to Aubrey with a “Trust me, these are delish,” and heads for the balcony.
Aubrey’s about to take a bite when Kai says, “That’s not vegan. Or is that a lie too?”
Aubrey lowers the skewer. “This... it’s not what you think.”
“Really? You didn’t just bring another date to the party you invited me to?”
“Well, I tried to uninvite you.”
“That doesn’t make it better. Tell me, Aubrey, have you been using me to make that asshat jealous?”
“What? No, I’m not—”
“Because that sucks.”
Aubrey rolls the metal stick in her hand, looking past Kai, willing Ilena or Mallory to come help.
“Aubrey?” Kai says.
Ethan’s joining Noreen on the balcony, his hand on her waist as he bends his head into Harley’s fur. Ethan hates dogs.
“Or perhaps we should stick with Ms. Miller.”
She snaps back to Kai. “No, that’s not what I want either. At the bar, I was having such a good time.”And pissed at the man I just slept with.“I had already invited Ethan, and I guess there was miscommunication about him coming. Still, inviting you probably wasn’t the smartest move, considering.” She keeps fiddling with the skewer and a bit of the coconut it’s covered in falls on her shirt. As she wipes it away, she realizes that in her hurry to get dressed, she misbuttoned.
Kai’s gaze follows hers, and the reason she was in a hurry must be written all over her face.
“I get it,” he says, not with anger or disgust but disappointment. “But I can’t stay here. You’re not my only boss. Mrs. Singh and Ms. Latham—”
“I’ll make it right.”
He nods slowly. “Perhaps by seeing if there’s an opening in marketing?”
“Oh, that’s not... you don’t have to, or I mean, you shouldn’t have to... this just happened, I promise. I didn’t choose—”
“But you did. Own it, as my grandma says. Fault’s in the past, responsibility’s in the present.”
Aubrey stills, stopping the spinning of the skewer. Kai takes it from her, his hair no longer smelling of her eucalyptus. He places the skewer on a napkin on the table beside a silver gift bag. Aubrey peers inside. There’s a small, stuffed octopus with a gift tag that reads,Warmly, Kai.She places her hand to her chest, trying to discreetly fix her mismatched buttons but fumbling thanks to the sharp beat of her heart.
Kai tries to slip out unnoticed, but Felix catches him. Aubrey wants to do something or say something, but before she can, Felix is directing them all into the dining room, asking what they’d like to drink with dinner, trying—unsuccessfully—to get Mallory to take off her coat.
