Page 16 of Faithful

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I’m a nervous wreck the day Kai returns to Seattle.

I don’t know why.

The last time we saw each other was over two months ago in Houston, before the lighter scandal, before my father kicked me to the curb, before Kai asked for space. Space that he himself filled with calls and texts and strange clingy questions two people who are just blowing each other in secret wouldn’t usually care about.

And now that I have no one to monitor my every move, I feel like I can finally breathe a little, like I can finally let him into my life a bit more.

U want to come over after you get in?I shoot him the text while on my way to work.

He doesn’t respond right away, and I’m silently freaking out in my cubicle until lunch.

The entire office is on a roll preparing for the Candy Drive and Gin decides to treat us today to express her gratitude. Val leaves to pick up our food order from the place next door when my phone pings. I pull out my desk drawer and check the text.

K: possibly

K: how r u going to entertain me?

how do you want to be entertained?

K: not sure, surprise me

OK

Give me something to work with?

K: I’ll be hungry

There’s a grinning emoji too and I realize that I’m grinning back. I’m grinning back at the tiny yellow ball on my phone like it’s the fucking sun.

Shit. I’m whipped. I know it and I’m not even ashamed anymore.

I rack my brain for a few minutes, trying to sift through all the conversations Kai and I have had.

Does he have any food allergies?

Dietary restrictions?

Is he a picky eater?

Does he hate any specific foods?

By the end of my day at the office, I have a pretty good idea of what I’m ordering.

On my way home, I text him to see what time he’ll be able to come around.

K: Whenever your roommate is out of the picture

She’s in Mexico.

K: i have a few errands to run

K: so how about 8?

I’m about to type that eight sounds great but decide to go the Leigh route and send him my address and a bunch of emojis that, in my opinion, express the exact level of my excitement because words probably won’t. I’m not good with them, not like him.

Kai responds with a sticker of a smirking rabbit.

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