Page 89 of Resorting to Romance

“No. Never mind. It’s okay,” I backpedal.

He smiles down at me, cocking one eyebrow. “What if I want a hug?”

“Do you?”

“Actually? Yes.”

Kai pulls me into his arms and wraps me up in his warm embrace. He’s tropics and sunshine, comfort and ease, strength and goodness. And he’s holding me like I’m fragile, precious, and … his.

Maybe I’m imagining that last bit, but I close my eyes anyway, leaning in and letting out a long sigh into his chest.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs into my hair. “And I’ll be here for all of it.”

I don’t have words to answer him, so I just nod lightly and squeeze my arms just a smidge tighter around him.

He squeezes me back. Then he steps away, releasing me.

“Okay. Well. Goodnight, Hot Dog.”

I shake my head, but I don’t correct him. He’s right. I kinda love the nickname.

TWENTY-FIVE

Mila

I promise to kiss you like it’s the first time

and the last time, every time.

~ J. K. Louis

This past week, I barely saw Kai. Brad contacted me when the sale on his property finalized. I called Kai immediately after Brad and I hung up.

Not Chloe.

Not Phyllis.

Kai.

He’s becoming so integral to my life these days. He’s always been a friend, a steady presence in my life—and in Noah’s, now that I think of it. But since we’ve been dating—fakedating—it’s different.

I place the sourdough loaf in the oven and step back. Baking fresh bread feels grounding to me. It’s a long process of cultivating the starter, feeding it, then turning that into dough, kneading it and letting it rise before baking. It feels like what I need right now, something slow and organic in the middle of allthe dramatic changes that seem to be propelling my life at warp speed. Brad’s relocating to the island temporarily. Kai and I are knee-deep—more like up to our necks—in the charade we’ve perpetuated. It’s overwhelming at times. Most of the time … every minute I’m not asleep, really.

Another daily text comes in from Kai. I pick my phone up off the counter to read it.

Kai: Just checking how you’re doing. Brad arrives today, right?

Mila: Yep. Today’s his big day. I’ve been baking.

Kai: Stress baking? Because I can get behind you stress baking all day long.

Mila: Maybe stress baking. It’s definitely relaxing me.

Kai: What’s in the oven?

Mila: Is that like when a guy texts, What are you wearing? And, Sourdough.

Kai: I just laughed so hard. Ben asked me what was so funny. Needless to say, I did not share your text with him. You wearing sourdough sounds intriguing.

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