Chapter 49 Kai
Kai
This is the first holiday I’m spending with my family truly back together.
I feel so fulfilled, as though the missing pieces in my life are back together; I found the last piece of my puzzle.
Even though everything is still so fresh, I’m finding a lot of comfort in our small routines.
It’s so special to me to wake up every morning with Blakely beside me and Amari down the hall from us.
It brings me so much peace to see us all come together in the evening after a busy day and watch my family sitting around the table, enjoying each other’s company with a full plate of food for each of us.
An overwhelming happiness has filled my heart every day since my family moved in with me.
As I drive to Brooke’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, the sun is shining bright—like it has every day since Blakely said she loves me.
We’ve been so caught up with each other that we haven’t seen or talked to family much.
After showing Blakely our house, we went straight to her mom’s to pack her bags again because she and Amari weren’t leaving my sight.
Although I’m sure word spread fast, and everyone knows we’re together.
I scrunch my brows, confused at the sight of everyone’s cars already at Brooke’s house. We’re usually the first ones here, since B helps her mom cook and set up for dinner.
“That’s weird. Everyone’s already here,” B says, clearly just as confused as I am.
I reach for B's hand and kiss the top of it. “Are you ready to walk through those doors as a family again?”
She chuckles. “Nothing has really changed. Does it feel like it has?”
“Everything has changed. Now, instead of just wanting to kiss you, I can kiss you,” I say, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
“Eww!” Amari says from the back. “You guys do that too much.”
We both turn our heads toward her and chuckle. “We love each other,” I say.
“You guys have always loved each other, but you guys never kissed,” she says with a crinkled nose and furrowed brows.
B rolls her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get inside and see what’s going on.”
As we walk inside the house, my mouth waters from the aroma of a roasted turkey and the sweet scent of pie lingering in the air.
Amari walks ahead of us as I intertwine my fingers with B’s.
The moment we walk into the kitchen, whistles echo in the air.
Everyone is already sitting around the table with big smiles on their faces at the sight of us.
I lift B's hand up in the air with mine.
B gazes up at me with a wide grin on her face.
I pull her closer to me and kiss her on the lips.
Everyone is still cheering us on. B laughs between our kiss, crashing her teeth against my lips.
After everyone has served themselves dinner and we’re all sitting around the table, Kevin blurts out, “So have you guys done the deed?” He raises his brows up and down.
“Kevin!” B exclaims, staring at him in shock.
“What’s the deed?” Amari asks looking between me and her mom.
My head shakes in embarrassment. I’m younger than him, and he still acts like a teenager sometimes. Is he ever going to grow out of it? I always used to apologize for him but now everyone, especially Brooke, is used to it. They just shake their heads and continue on with their day.
"It’s kissing,” B says to Amari.
Amari makes the same disgusted face she made in the car. “They kiss all the time. It’s gross,” she says, sticking her tongue out.
Everyone around the table giggles.
“So, when will you guys be moving into the new house?” Brooke asks.
“What house?” Kevin asks, chewing with his mouth open.
Paige looks at B with her brows scrunched. “Yeah. What house?”
No one knew about the house. Brooke and Bryn only found out because B told them when we came over here to pack her and Amari clothes. We’re doing our final walk-through in a week, and then we can move in.
"Kai built us a house,” B says.
Paige gasped. “What?”
Kevin crosses his arms, confused that he never knew about this. “Why didn’t I know about this?” he asks, as if he should’ve been the first to know.
“No one knew about it,” I say, taking a sip of my water.
Ever since I got back with B, I haven’t wanted a drink.
I usually never feel like drinking, but I’ve always grabbed one because it was there.
It’s nice to know I could stop myself after one or two, but now…
even when it’s in front of me, I haven’t wanted it.
In a way, I was still drinking to numb my loneliness from not having my family.
“I just found out. He’s been building it for two years,” B says, shifting in her seat.
Kevin’s brows draw together. “Why wouldn’t you tell anyone, Kai?”
“Because I wanted B to be the first to know.” I place my water down, shaking my head slightly at his demeanor.
“Then why didn’t you tell her two years ago?” he asks.
I let out a sigh. “Because, Kevin, things didn’t work out the way I planned,” I say. My God, he drives me crazy sometimes.
“But–”
Paige cuts Kevin off as she shoves his shoulder. “Oh, my God, Kevin. Shut up and stop worrying about why he didn’t tell you first. I’m sure that’s why you’re tripping.”
Kevin narrows his angry face at Paige and then looks back toward me with a slight chuckle. “You’ve gone soft, brother.”
“And this is why you will be single until the day you die,” Paige says, shaking her head.
Does their bickering ever get old to them? We’ve all been around it for years, and we’re so used to it. Deep down, do they have feelings for each other? I know for a fact they haven’t slept together, because if they did, Kevin would never let me hear the end of it.
“Do you like your new house?” Bryn tilts her head toward Amari.
Amari nods. “My room is so big.” Her eyes go wide. “Bigger than any room I’ve ever had before.”
“It’s a beautiful room,” Brooke says with a wide grin.
After we packed up their clothes, I took Brooke, Bryn, and Amari to see the new house. The look on Amari's face when she saw her room was priceless. It was everything I wanted and more. Everything I do is for Amari and B. It gives me a profound sense of pride that I’m able to provide for my family.
When I was younger, I wanted to start my own business. I was only wanting a business to have the title of business owner. That title was so important to me. As I got older, that title didn’t feel fulfilling. Not as fulfilling as having the title dad—and hopefully husband soon.
“What!” Kevin says, crossing him arms. “Has everyone seen it but me?” He’s now wide-eyed.
“Kevin, not everything is about you!” Paige exclaims, shaking her head once again at him.
Brooke shakes her head, too, and says, “It’s a beautiful house, Kai. You did a great job. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come,” she says, looking between all three of us—Amari, B, and me. “I’m proud of how far all three of you've come.”
B gazes at me with sparkles in her eyes. “Thanks, Mom. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“And me,” Kevin says under his breath.
“Shut up!” Paige whispers.
I glare at him, wondering how much he’s drank today. He’s been more obnoxious than usual. Is he really that upset I didn’t include him in the house? I didn’t include anyone. Not even the love of my life.
Paige raises her wine glass. “I would like to make a toast.” Everyone grabs their drinks and raises them in the air. “To family.”