Page 30 of Until Now

“Knock, knock,” Kai stands at the open door with a plate of food. “Figured you might be hungry.”

“Hai portato del vino?” I ask and he lifts a glass filled with red wine in the air. “You may enter.”

“I see you went shopping today.” Kai motions through the window where shopping bags sit on my bed.

“You saw nothing.”

“So all of those bags just appeared out of nowhere?”

“Exactly. We’re keeping it a secret.”

“Just like old times,” Kai smirks. Even though he and I hadn’t gotten along much growing up, my shopping trips with Daddy had always been a secret he kept from Mother. Why? I’m not entirely sure, but I appreciated it nonetheless. “What she doesn’t know won’t kill her.”

“Or me.” I smile as Kai’s laugh booms around us. But, I know he didn’t just come to bring me dinner, he wants something. Picking at the chicken breast, I ask, “What are you doing here, Kai?”

“I can’t bring my baby sister dinner without strings attached?”

“Not usually.”

He sighs, “Is everything okay, Nin?”

I raise a suspicious brow. “Did Nick say something?”

“No, but it’s not hard to tell.” Kai motions toward the plate in my lap.

“Don’t worry about it, Kai.”

“Are you guys fighting?”

“I said, don’t worry about it.”

“Look, I’m not trying to pry, but I don’t want this to be another Lee situation. Yeah, this guy is cool and all, but if he hurts you or—”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then, what’s it like?”

“Kai, just drop it. Sei così ficcanaso.”

“Nina—”

“I said drop it.” I’m tired of the constant game of 20 Questions when it comes to my relationship with Nick. Fake relationship. Fake, I remind myself.

“Well, if you decide you do want to talk about it, you know where to find me.”

“Kai, you’re the last person I would go to for relationship advice. I’d sooner humiliate myself and go to Dad.”

“Offended!” I giggle at his outburst, but it fades when I see Nick through the window. We share a glance my brother steals his attention. With them being preoccupied, it gives me the chance to escape without having to answer anymore questions.

Upstairs is quiet, everyone turned in early tonight. So, I’m taking the opportunity to enjoy the stillness. I wash my plate and refill my wine glass before retreating to the patio to dip my feet in the pool. Finally, I recount the events of the day. I touch my lips remembering the sensation of Nick’s lips on mine, completely different from anything I’ve felt before. And, it scares me. I cannot let myself feel this. I can’t. He is only here for the money. He isn’t here for me. I’m not even looking for anything either.

Right?

No. I’m not. I’m supposed to be focused on work, on building my company. I can’t afford distractions. And so far, this entire trip has been nothing but a distraction.

Maybe if I act like it didn’t happen things can go back to normal. Whatever that is. If Nick wants to talk, I’ll tell him there’s nothing to talk about. Because there isn’t. Just a fluke, an accident. These kinds of things happen. We just need to forget it.

Chapter Eighteen

---