Page 31 of Resorting to Romance

Kai’s face grows serious. “No. Actually, we need to talk.”

“Okaaaay. Is everything alright?”

“Mostly. I’m sure it is. It’s just …” Kai looks over at me, setting his sandwich down and running his hand through his hair, mussing it up even more.

Then Kai goes on to tell me about Shaw texting him and Ben’s teasing because an employee at the front desk called to gossip about seeing us outside Horizons. I sit quietly, listening to Kai. My mind whirls. I didn’t intend for him to declare himself my boyfriend in front of Brad in the first place, but up until this moment, the farce seemed harmless and helpful. If I can keep Brad from thinking I’m available, it will simplify things if I allow him into Noah’s life, which I will have to do somehow. He is Noah’s father, after all.

But now, people are talking. Granted, they are people at the resort, which is on the other side of the island, but news here travels. It’s one of the reasons I’ve avoided actually dating all these years.

“Does Shaw know Brad?” Kai asks.

“They went to high school together. We all did.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“Okay. So.” I start to say something definitive, to offer up an idea as to how we can move forward, but I come up blank. So, I just look at Kai, hoping he’s got an idea even though I’m at a loss.

“I’ve been thinking about this for the past two hours.” Kai reaches over and places his hand on top of mine.

My eyes drift down to where his light golden skin engulfs mine. It’s not like Kai and I never touch. We occasionally bump into one another when we’re working on a project together. We’ve hugged. He’s nudged me playfully. But this touch is one of comfort, and it reminds me too much of what it felt like to be nestled into his side, held up by him when my world was falling apart.

“I think we can go about this a few different ways,” Kai says. “And we ought to think through each option and the ramifications if we choose that course of action. Then, maybe, the way forward will be clear.”

“Sounds logical.”

He gives my hand a gentle squeeze and returns to eating his sandwich.

“First,” he says. “The obvious option. We can call this off, clear things up with Shaw and Ben, and move forward like nothing happened. I’d just text Shaw and say, ‘Mila and I are not together. I was just helping her talk to Brad.’ And then I’d tell Ben, ‘Mila and I really aren’t dating. Trust me.’ To be fair, knowing Ben, he won’t buy it at first, but over time, when he saw us still acting as friends, he would.”

“Okay. Yeah. That sounds good.”

“Does it?”

It’s funny Kai should ask that, because something in me feels … disappointed? Why? I should feel relieved that we’d be calling our farce off and ending it sooner than later. I’m smart enough to know any lie breeds lies. And those lies breed lies. This would be no different, would it?

Maybe it’s just that the words,call this off, sound too much like a break up, and I don’t relish the idea of anything that involves losing Kai. Not that I’d be losing him. He’s right here. He’ll still be my friend like he’s always been.

“Yeah. I think so,” I finally say. “What’s the downside to this option? It seems the most direct and obvious.”

“Right. Well, the main downside is Brad. You said this morning that you liked the idea of him thinking you were attached to someone. Do you need to put up a front with him?”

The question feels intimate. I don’t usually talk about my marriage, not even with Chloe. I shut the door and moved forward years ago. But now it’s all right in my face, demanding attention since Brad showed up and rocked the foundation of the life I’ve built for Noah and myself with one simple request—to see his son.

“He hasn’t said as much, but I know Brad. Maybe I’m crazy …”

“You’re not. Trust your instincts, Mila. You were married to the man. You do know him. Is he interested in more than seeing Noah? Is this whole thing possibly a ploy to get to see you too?”

“I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say it’s a ploy, but he told me I looked beautiful this morning.”

“You did.”

Kai comments on my appearance like he’s observing the weather.There’s a storm blowing in.Also,you looked beautiful. But something in me thrills at his compliment. What woman wouldn’t? Here’s an attractive, kind man, sitting alone with me in my kitchen telling me I looked beautiful. Anyone would feel goosebumps and a little flip in their belly. It’s natural.

“To answer you,” I steer us back to the point at hand. “I’m not sure. He seemed like he regretted letting me go. He said things like,I think about you every day.”

“He said he thinks about you every day.”

“I think so. Yeah. Sorry. My brain was so overwhelmed and Iwas full of nerves. It’s hard to recall the exact words he used. But, yes. He said that.”

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