12. Aiyana

Chapter twelve

Aiyana

Monday, November 27, 2023

T he distinct sound of Rose's kitten heels clicking against the linoleum floor tells me that she's approaching my workstation.

"Hey, Aiyana,"—she smiles at me brightly—"could we do lunch together when you're done in here?"

I fight the wide-eyed expression that's trying to make its way onto my face. "Yeah, that'd be great. Just give me five minutes to wrap up in here."

Why would she want to have lunch with me?

I finish up what I'm working on, wash my hands, and head over to my cubicle to grab my purse and cell phone before heading over to her desk, where I find her already waiting for me.

Her pastel-pink hair is down to her shoulders with a soft wave in it, and it contrasts her black dress and matching heels. "Ready to go?" I ask her, and she makes her way around the desk.

"Yep, mind if we go to that little café across the street?" she asks me.

I eye her questioningly. "The one with the incredible calamari?" The only calamari better than the one at Giovanni's is the one Kas used to make me.

"God, yes! That one," she says with a laugh. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves it. Okay, it's settled; we'll go there."

We head across the street and make pleasantries, asking about how our Thanksgivings went last week. She spent hers with Alessandro's family, and I spent mine with my parents while Kat and Kas had dinner at this inn they've been going to every year for their Thanksgiving buffet.

We take our seats and order the calamari and a couple of salads before Rose turns her attention fully on me, her eyes glittering with mischief.

"I'm sure you're wondering what your boss is doing asking you to lunch," she says with a chuckle, not giving me time to answer, "and I promise, I'm not usually one to meddle." My eyes go wide with worry. Meddle in what?

"Oh, relax, nothing about you. It's just that my brother-in-law won't shut up about your friend Kat, and I'm just wondering if she has any interest in him too. Because if she doesn't, I'd like to steer him in the direction of leaving her be so he doesn't get hurt." My shoulders relax, and I release an involuntary sigh the moment I realize where this conversation is headed. She isn't trying to meddle in my life. She wants to make sure her brother-in-law doesn't get hurt. Now, that is a conversation I'm willing to have. Because frankly, Kat needs to pull her head out of her very perky ass and put us all out of our misery. At the very least, those two need to bone.

Opting for the more PG version of my thoughts, I tell Rose, "Kat does like him and wants to date him, but she apparently has some reasoning as to why she thinks she can't." God, that sounds fucking familiar, except I really do have a reason. So far, Kat hasn't been able to provide any logical explanation for why the gentle giant across the hall shouldn't be allowed to make a mess of her body and tell her sweet nothings before bed. "I see how they are together, and I think with a little nudge from me and Kas, she might finally let herself get involved with him. I don't think there needs to be a hard stop from Ale. He should just give her some time to process her feelings. Truthfully, Kat hasn't been in any very serious relationships because she's always been preoccupied with school, and if it wasn't school, it was work. I think she needs to come to terms with how quickly her feelings are growing for Alessandro."

She nods, assessing me and digesting my words before finally answering. "Agreed. Thanks for that," she says, almost dismissively, as if that was all she needed to hear to feel adequately appeased. "My wife, Charlie, begged me to ask you about it. I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable at all," she tells me with sincerity in her voice.

I shake my head. "Not at all. I prefer to meddle in other people's love lives than my own," I joke.

She leans back in her chair, relaxing. "I can't say I disagree." She gives me a small smirk.

We finish lunch, and I head back to work.

***

Maybe I should text Kas and see if he can give Kat the nudge she needs to give Alessandro a shot. I mean, didn't she say her biggest concern was causing issues between Kas and Ale?

Hey

Kas

Hello gorgeous.

Could you talk to Kat about Alessandro? She has it in her head that you wouldn't be cool with them dating.

Kas

Sounds oddly familiar, doesn't it?

Kas

But yes, I'll call her tonight.

Thanks Kass.

Kas

That's not a very clever way of calling me an ass…

Kas

Not very nice of you either.

When have you ever known me to be "very nice"???

Kas

I can recall one summer where you were on your knees… praising me with compliments…

Heat rushes through my body, a jolt of electricity heading straight to my clit at the memory. I know exactly what summer he's referring to, and he knows it. Fucker.

No idea what you're talking about.

Kas

Can you be honest with me for just one second Aiyana?

Why does he want to talk about that summer so badly? As his next message comes through at that thought, I quickly realize he's most definitely not talking about that summer after all.

Kas

Have you missed me? At all? Even just a little bit?

God, fine. This man just won't let up, and frankly, I'm done denying it, even if nothing can come of the admission. Besides, he'll know I'm lying if I try to say otherwise anyway.

Yes.

Kas

Good.

Kas

Me too.

Kas

Every day.

Kas

Can we please at least be friends? We can just text each other about our day?

He sounds as desperate as I feel to be back in his life. And now that we're no longer living on opposite ends of the country? I don't think I can keep avoiding him.

Fine. How was your day?

Kas

Fuck yes!

His excitement at a simple response from me does funny things to my insides.

Kas

Sooo much better now.

Kas

This gorgeous woman I've been obsessed with since middle school finally decided we could be friends. How about you?

I roll my eyes at that text despite the flurry of butterflies fluttering around in my gut. And just like that, Kas has reminded me just how easy it is to get addicted to him.

Pretty good. Got to talk to this loser from middle school that I missed and my boss took me out to my favorite calamari spot.

Kas

Giovanni's Cafe?

Kas

It's by your new job, isn't it?

Yeah, you remembered?

Kas

Aiyana… I got you calamari from that place twice a week in undergrad and tossed it in the air fryer two mins before feeding it to you so you wouldn't know lol of course I remember.

My mouth goes dry with the emotions swarming me. I can already tell what a horrendous idea this was. I don't know how the hell I'm going to keep him at arm's length.

I shake the feelings off. I can't keep pushing and pulling with him. I already agreed to be friends. There's no backing out now, so I've just got to be the adult here. Or try to be anyway. Because if this goes sideways, it won't just be me that pays in the end.

OH

MY

GAWD

You dick!!!

You've had me craving your damn calamari thinking I'd never have it again for FIVE YEARS!

Kas

Give me a half hour to place an order and grab my air fryer and I'll be right over with it.

No! You've ruined the illusion. Besides, it's getting late. I have to call my dad. We'll talk tomorrow.

Night Kas.

Kas

Goodnight my little viper 3

That fucking nickname. It unravels my already fraying edges every time he says it.

***

As soon as I get out of the shower, I unplug my phone from the charger and search for my dad's contact info, pressing dial.

It rings only once before his melodious voice trickles in over the line. "How's my favorite daughter doing? Are you enjoying your new job?"

"Hi, Edoda . I'm your favorite because I'm your only daughter, and my job hasn't changed since I saw you on Thanksgiving." I laugh, going through the same song and dance as usual.

"Ah yes, thanks for reminding me." He chuckles. "You know, I was thinking…" he tells me, trailing off in thought.

"Oh no, you? Thinking? That's never good!" I joke with him, though he has a penchant for getting us both into trouble with his ideas.

"I've been feeling much better lately. Maybe we can go to one of the Scarlets' games together soon? You think Kas could get us tickets?" Anything my father wants, he can have. No request is too big because I'll figure out a way to get it for him for every sacrifice he's made for me.

"Of course. I don't think that should be too much trouble. When do you wanna go?"

"How about the game on Monday? There's less traffic, and they'll be playing that team from Vermont we hate so much." He snorts before letting out a series of coughs that make my chest strain with worry.

I rush to answer him. "Of course, next Monday sounds perfect."

"I look forward to it. Gotta go to bed, though, my sweet child. Your mom is scowling at me." I hear her murmur something snarky at him before she grabs the phone to tell me goodnight.

"Goodnight, Edoda , Etsi . I love you both."

As soon as we end the call, I consider texting Kas about the tickets, but it's late, and I need a reprieve between conversations with him.