Page 35 of Too Much In Common
The kitchen was spotless. Chris stood near the sink with a dish towel over his shoulder.
“That was quick.”
“It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”
“Your shirt is still damp.”
“I want to change it, but I also want to share that dessert.”
“Your apartment isn’t that far. I’ll wait.”
“Really?”
“Yes, do you want me to heat the brownie?”
“Yes, I’ll be back in a moment.”
Tian walked him to the door. Before she made it back to the kitchen, Simone came out of her bedroom. “Did I walk in on what I thought I walked in on?”
“What would that be?”
“A kiss.” Simone kept her eyes on Tian. “And you are blushing. Tell me.”
“Almost.”
“I’m so sorry. And now he’s gone.”
“He’s coming back.” Tian walked into the kitchen.
“Should I make myself scarce?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Tian took the brownie from the paper takeout container and set it on a plate in the microwave to reheat. She turned to face Simone. “You know how hard it is to get back those moments. You try too hard, it’s never quite right.”
“Been there, done that. I feel terrible I ruined your kiss.”
“Don’t. It gave me a moment to think. My only objection at this point is his name.”
“Name, shame, lame?” Simone waved her hands around as if batting the objection away.
A knock at the door interrupted them. Simone rushed back into her bedroom. Tian rolled her eyes and answered the door.
It wasn’t Chris. She’d never seen the man holding a bouquet of grocery store flowers before. How had he gotten here? Wasn’t security supposed to vet anyone coming up to their floor and message them? Simone had said nothing about expecting a guest. Still, Tian needed to say something “Hi.”
“Christian Johnson?” he continued without her acknowledgement. “I’m First Officer Tim Jones. I wanted to say thank you for taking my flight when I thought I needed an appendectomy.”
“How did you know where I live?” the nagging question slipped out before anything else—like why he’d onlythoughthe needed surgery.
“Your dad told me where you lived—with your cousin Simone.” He looked over her shoulder.
Tian stepped into the hall, closing the door behind her, hoping Chris would hurry. Alarm bells rang in Tian’s head. She hadn’t told her father she was moving. It had never come up during their last flight. She never mentioned Simone to her father. He’d been flying the plane when the incident happened, and there were still hard feelings in his failure to allow the crew to eject the intoxicated man who hit Simone when he got on the plane. Why would this pilot lie? “Flowers weren’t necessary. An email would have sufficed.”
“I wanted to meet you.” He seemed sincere.
Tian forced a smile, wondering what to say next. Chris came around the corner. Relief filled her.
Chris raised a brow but didn’t say a word. He waited for her to make the next move. She gave her warmest smile to Chris.
“There you are. This is my boyfriend, Chris, and this is—” Tian didn’t fill in the name to show she didn’t know the man.
