Page 27 of The Almost One

“I swear I could eat a hundred of these. Baby sure does have a sweet tooth.” Petal groans as she finishes off her latest vegan marshmallow, and I smile. Pregnancy looks good on her.

From behind, you’d never know she’s pregnant, she’s so tiny it’s almost impossible to notice. Her stomach has the most perfect little round bump though, and every time Ev is anywhere near her, he strokes his hand protectively over it. I get a sense of pride seeing them like that, and knowing I have a niece or nephew on the way feels really special.

“You sure it’s just the baby’s sweet tooth, Pet?” Kai laughs from where he’s sitting next to Ev as they share a joint. Far enough away from Petal and me that she doesn’t inhale the fumes.

“You calling the pregnant woman a liar, Kai?” Petal raises a brow at him in defiance, but her sunshine still shines through, even when she’s trying to be serious.

“I would never.” Holding his hands up in surrender, Kai winks at her with a smile.

“Didn’t think so.” She turns her attention to me. “Can you pass over some more marshmallows, please?” Batting her ridiculously long lashes, she grins, tilting her head to the side for added effect, and I can’t help but laugh.

“As the official coolest aunt in the world, of course.” I pass the bag over to her with a wink, and she stabs at one with her stick, ready to toast the fuck out of it. “Where’s Freya tonight?” I don’t know why it has just dawned on me that she isn’t here, but there you go.

“The treatment she’s having is wiping her out a little, so she stayed at home. Only two weeks left to go and she’ll be finished. Hopefully, the doc will give her the all clear and we can start moving on.” Kai’s usual brightness dims as he talks about Freya, and I can only imagine how draining being around her in his own home must be.

She’s an energy vampire and I’m glad I’m not the one who has to deal with all of that.

“Has she been staying at your place while you’re working in The City?”

“Yeah, her place is further away from Ev and Petal’s than mine, and with her parents still off fuck knows where, she wants the support system while I’m working away.”

“Fair enough. Ev, wanna roll me one of those and swap places? The lack of tequila today is disappointing.” I nudge Petal with my elbow to let her know she’s partially to blame for the alcohol drought today. I’m not a huge drinker, and she knows I’m joking, but she’s my Cinco de Mayo tequila-buddy.

“Already prepared, Riv.” He waves a fresh joint in the air as he stands and we swap seats so he’s sitting next to Petal while I plop down on the bean bag closest to Kai. “Are you warm enough, Babe?”

He immediately starts messing around with the blankets, covering Petal’s shoulders and all but burying her beneath them. She smiles, and it’s clear she doesn’t need the warmth he’s surrounding her in, but she accepts it all the same, snuggling into him as he finally settles.

“Thanks, Bear.” Kissing the top of her head, my baby brother looks so proud and happy with himself and I fucking love that for him.

“Coming to sit in the naughty smoking corner with your bestie?” Kai opens up the blanket he has over himself, gesturing for me to join him underneath it so he can wrap his arms around me like we often do. As much as, for me, it would be a platonic friends thing… I know Kai still has other thoughts and feelings, and I’m not the girl to lead him on if I can help it.

“I am. You can have sharesies if you behave yourself.” Laughing, I face him, letting the blanket drape over my knees. I’m also not the girl to drop all my friends—male or female—because of a guy, but I’m aware there are limits.

A streak of hurt flashes across Kai’s honey-colored eyes, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared as he holds out a flame for me to light the joint now hanging between my lips.

“The husband not joining us tonight?”

It’s a fair question. I literally asked a similar one when enquiring as to where Freya is, but there’s something more behind the way he says it. Something I’m absolutely not diving into right now because we’re having a nice evening—despite Marco’s worrying text just under a couple of hours ago, but he said everything will be okay, and I believe him.

“He will be, he’s just running a little late is all.” I take a couple of drags on the joint and pass it over, leaning back on my palms and looking to the sky. The stars aren’t always visible so close to the big city, but tonight, they’re glorious.

“Listen, Riv. I need to tell you something.” Kai’s voice is a low whisper, our own little bubble of conversation. Much like the one Ev and Petal are having right now as she leans into him and they stare into the sky together. It’s fucking pukeworthy, but beautiful all at the same time.

I’m apprehensive about what it is he has to tell me, and I’m not sure if I want to hear it if I’m going by the furrow of his brow. “Oookay. You better pass that back if it’s as bad as your face says.”

He takes another drag before smiling and handing the joint over to me. “Nah, it might be nothing, I just think you should know.”

“Stop dancing around it and tell me then.”

With a deep breath, his shoulders sag slightly and he leans forward. “I saw that woman with Marco again. She was going into his hotel and I didn’t see her come out again.”

“Kai, I love you, but it’s not really any of your business. I get that you’re looking out for me, and I appreciate it, but no.” I hand the joint back to him with a lighthearted wink to hopefully ease the situation and not make it weird. This is the second time Kai’s come to me like this, and while I trust Marco, I can’t help the doubt that creeps in. “Anyway, how much longer are you working in The City? I’m sure you’ve told me, but I’ve slept since then and I can’t remember shit right now.”

Laughter bubbles up to my throat, desperately wanting to escape, and why the fuck not? Thanks, weed.

“I’m keeping the rest of this for myself, ya little stoner.” Kai’s trying to keep a straight face, mocking me and my lack of control, but I see the corners of his lips tilting upward so I lightly jab the fucker in the ribs.

My self-defense sessions with Lina and Enzo have been going well, and going by the shock on Kai’s face, my jab wasn’t as light as I’d anticipated. Whoops?

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