I’d been confident all week. Talking to Jo and remembering the wedding weekend had helped me believe this could all be real.
But something about that word,cutie, just did me in. Maybe it was because OK called me that. Maybe the word had some kind of subconscious link to my sex drive after all years of horny chatting.
Whatever the reason, the second the word slipped past Kai’s lips, I felt giggly and happy and shy.
“You sure walking is fine?” he asked. “I could drive.”
“Walking is great. I spent the whole day in the office.”
He gestured down the street. “Come on, I’ll show you the neighborhood.”
Squirrel Hill was spread out around us, with tall trees lining the gently sloping streets and old buildings of diverse architectural styles on every block. As the sun sank down to the horizon, an orange light glowed across it all, and a gentle breeze tossed through the air.
“Have you recovered from the wedding?”
“Pretty much. I still have to deal with all my new Instagram fans, though.”
“New fans?”
“They’re very demanding.”
“What do they want?”
“More pictures of you.”
As a jogger passed, I shot him a glance. “They do not,” I countered with a soft laugh.
“Okay, more pictures of us,” he conceded. “We look very charming together, especially in the woods. And apparently, if you post a bunch of pictures of a new person acting charming with you, the fans get ideas in their heads.”
“And who are these fans, exactly?”
This time, Kai caught my eye. “Don’t play me like that,” he whispered.
I laughed. “What do you mean?”
He turned his hands up, palms to the sky as we rounded the corner. “Okay, fine. My moms and Shawn are the new fans. You caught me.”
“I’ve already won the moms over? That’s got to be a record.”
“Definitely, but you won them over when you helped River pass seventh grade math.”
We both laughed, walking closer together, and an old brick building caught my eye across the street. “Oh hey,” I said, pointing. “Is that used bookstore any good?”
“It’s decent. Want to check it out?”
“I don’t want to make us late for dinner. I know you said you were working all day.”
“I’m in no hurry.” He slipped his hand into mine. “Come on.”
Kai clasped my hand, the embrace warm and firm, and pulled me along as we jogged across the street. The sensation warmed me, like a thrill that reached down to my gut.
Easily, I was able to relax with Kai. The constant compliments helped, even if I was still learning how to receive them. But there was something familiar about the way we teased and flirted, too, that helped to ease my nerves.
It was confusing. We definitely didn’t talk that way as kids, but I wasn’t going to complain about it being easy now.
A little bell dinged as we walked in, the smell of old books welcoming us. The light was dim, and a little black terrier ran in circles underneath the counter.
“Are you looking for something to read?” Kai asked.
