I pressed my fingers to my temples. “I don’t want to know,” I laughed.
River laughed. “And in this instance, I don’t want to tell you. But that’s my point, Kai. You and Izzy have to figure out what’s right for you. There’s not some ideal way to have sex or form a relationship. You just need to figure out what makes you both feel satisfied and cared for and respected.” He took another sip of his drink, and I saw that he was grinning behind the glass. “And if that includes something super cute like dressing up in a kitty costume, own it.”
I poked his knee. “I don’t dress up as the cat,” I said, grinning. “And don’t tell anyone!”
“I won’t,” River answered, his hands in the air. “Just make sure you don’t deny yourself or Izzy a good time, and promise me one other thing.”
“What’s that?”
“If you ever do dress up as the cat, please promise you’ll tell me, because you and Izzy Horvat putting on costumes is the cutest thing ever.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Izzy
I buzzedKai up to my studio, then shoved the bag under my bed. The package had arrived over a week ago, but I hadn’t quite worked up the nerve to give it to Kai yet.
Having Kai as my boyfriend was heavenly, and every day that passed felt more like a dream was coming true. He was kind and attentive, and when I was with him, it was like being with my best friend. All of my insecurities floated away, and I got to just be there, fully present as my goofy self.
So maybe the package was a weird choice. It was a gift, but also a request and, I knew, a sensitive one to make.
But after talking to Jo, I just figured, what’s the point of having a boyfriend if you can’t ask him for what you want? And with Kai, I actually felt safe enough to realize what I wanted.
“Hey cutie,” Kai greeted me. It wasn’t one of our date nights, but he’d still dressed up a little, with a collared white shirt over my favorite pair of his jeans. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” I kissed him. “My team sent in the strategic plan today.”
“Yay!” he cheered, squeezing my arm. “Congrats.”
Kai paused by my oxalis, which was sprouting delicate flowers in pale purple over its big burgundy leaves. I appreciated the attention he paid it, and while I grabbed us each a lime soda water, I got a giddy smile on my face.
“Hey,” he said, relaxing on the couch. “I had an idea. What if you invite Jo to join us for the field visit next week?”
Kai was finally able to take a day off at the office, and so we’d decided he could tag along while I did some field research, and I could show him a little more of what I do. After I’d stopped by Silver Lining a couple times and spied him looking like a sexy boss at work, it was only fair.
He was modest about it, but the whole crew at Silver Lining obviously loved him. They treated him with obvious respect but also a lot of warmth, and it confirmed all the faith I’d placed in Kai to see he kept a workplace with everyone was happy and cared for.
“Jo loves coming along for field work. I’ll ask her.”
I stepped closer to the bed, my eye on the paper bag underneath. There wasn’t really any reason to wait to ask him, but it still made me feel squirmy and giggly, like when we’d first started hanging out with each other.
It was kind of nice, actually, feeling that way again.
I glanced over my shoulder, and Kai flipped through a book of maps I kept on the side table. With a deep breath, I grabbed the bag. “Hey, I have a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
I joined him on the couch, slipping in right beside him. “A request? I wondered if you’d be up for something.”
Naturally, Kai gave me his sincerest look right in that moment. His brow tightened as he nodded, and his full attention settled on me like a blanket.
“What’s up?” he said. “Anything, cutie.”
“I want to dress up again,” I said, and a mischievous grin tugged up the corner of his mouth, “and I wondered if you would dress up with me?”
Kai’s face froze, then fell slightly. “Oh, Izzy, like in one of your costumes? I don’t know…” His voice came out quick and nervous, which I had been prepared for.
I grabbed his hand and held his eye with a smile. “It’s okay,” I said, my heart pounding, probably just as hard as his. “I just thought I’d ask.” I took a deep breath, then added the part that I had practiced, remembering how much Kai appreciated direction communication. “It’s something I want, so I thought I should see what you thought. But if you’re not comfortable, I want you to know that’s okay, too.”
