Shit, Kai smelled nice.
“I want you to spin me around,” Steven demanded, pouting as I put Kai down.
I rolled my eyes. He tried to jump on my back but wasn’t very successful and we almost fell over.
“I’ve got this.” Kai jumped on my back, like it was an Olympic event, still laughing. “Giddy up.”
I ran through the gardens like a horse, completely ridiculous. But I didn’t care because it made Kai laugh.
Making Kai laugh made me happy. I told myself it was because after everything they’d been through that they deserved a bit of fun.
There could be more to it. But I wasn’t sure that I wanted to delve into those feelings, because Kai was temporary. Spring break didn’t last very long and we had the finals.
I stopped galloping, but Kai continued to cling to my back and I allowed it. It could be my work out for the day.
“Ice cream?” I asked.
“Yes.” Kai stayed on my back as we went to the ice cream shop.
“What flavor?” I asked as we looked at the menu.
“Chocolate chip mint, in a sugar cone, please,” Kai ordered.
“Small vanilla scoop in a cup, please,” I added.
“Cookies and cream in a waffle cone for me, please,” Steven said.
“I’ve got it,” I told Kai as I got my wallet.
Kai shook their head. “You don’t have to pay for everything for me. I’m not completely broke.”
“It’s not a problem, I remember college,” I confessed. “I was on a scholarship. I had a campus job. My parents did their best, but I didn’t want them to worry about me, especially in the years when the business was struggling. I ate a lot of noodles.”
Sometimes I missed the simplicity. But I also liked having enough money to be able to do what I wanted, like helping my parents so they didn’t have to choose what home bills to pay, because everything went to the business to pay salaries.
“Did you get anything back?” Steven asked.
They shook their head. “Not yet. I’ve been working with the bank and giving them info though.”
Kai was back on the ground, ice cream in hand. We ate our treat and walked around.
“Look at that tree,” they exclaimed, ice cream finished.
It was old, large, and perfect for climbing.
“Do you think I can climb that tree?” Kai put down their backpack, jumped up, and grabbed a branch.
“If you’re talking about permission, probably not,” Steven said as Kai scrambled up the branches. “But obviously I’m not doubting your ability.”
Kai was agile and it looked like tree climbing was a frequent pastime. But then I’d spent a lot of time up in trees, too.
Shoving my phone in my pocket, and throwing away the empty paper bowl, I grabbed the bottom branch and pulled myself up into the tree.
Kai grinned at me. “Come on up, the weather’s great.”
Steven waved and took a picture. He was used to me doing this.
“Don't you want to join me?” Kai went a little bit higher.
