Chapter 50
“I can’t believe you made a turkey,” I say to Kevin as he pulls the turkey out of the oven.
Emily went out of state for the holidays.
She said she was going to her sister’s house.
She still isn’t doing good and commented that everything here reminds her of her late husband.
I’m not sure if that meant that Kevin and Kai remind her of him.
I’d assume so. When Kai told me what she said, that was what popped into my head.
I didn’t want to say anything in case they weren’t thinking what I was thinking, and I didn’t want to put that thought into their heads.
Kevin frowns at me. “Why is that such a surprise to you?”
“You don’t seem like the cooking type,” I say while mashing the potatoes.
“There are many things you don’t know about me.”
I give him a side-eye.
For obvious reasons, we are having Thanksgiving dinner with just the four of us—Kevin, Kai, Amari, and me. Kevin said he would make the turkey, and he pulled through. At first, I was surprised and hesitant about how it would come out. But now that he has pulled it out of the oven, I’m impressed.
“Kai, the food is ready.” I walk into the living room.
Kai and Amari are lying side by side on their backs, playing with toys that Kai holds in his hand above Amari’s head.
She sways her arms around, trying to grab the toy.
Every time she grabs it, Kai says, “You did it. Good job!” Amari's smile gets bigger each time he cheers her on.
“Let’s go see if this food is edible,” he says to Amari and picks her up.
“Hey, I helped cook, too. Are you saying my food isn’t edible?”
“I know yours is. But Kevins? I’m not so sure.” He looks toward the kitchen at Kevin, who is cutting the turkey.
“Surprisingly, it doesn’t look bad,” I whisper.
I reach out to take Amari out of Kai's arms but stop when Kai doesn’t let her go. “Don’t you want to eat?” I ask.
“Yeah. Can you serve me a plate?”
“Yes.”
I set both of our plates down on the table and then reach over to grab Amari. Once again, Kai doesn’t let her go. “Do you want me to hold her?”
“I can eat and hold her.”
My eyes widened in disbelief that he offered to hold her. Usually, I’m the one who holds her while we eat. “Are you sure?”
He nods.
“Okay,” I say and dig into the turkey. “Kevin, I’m impressed that the turkey is edible.”
Kai chuckles.
Kevin looks at Kai and me. “Why are you guys surprised I can cook a damn turkey? I’m the one who usually barbecues around here.”
“Barbecuing is way different than cooking a turkey.”
“That’s the last time I’m going to cook for you assholes.”
“Wow, Kevin. We’re giving you a compliment. Stop getting your panties in a bunch,” I say and reach over for a roll.
Kevin glares at us. “Whatever.”
A few hours later, we’ll all sitting around the living room watching Amari roll over by herself.
Every time she rolls over, we all squeal in excitement.
Kevin was still butt hurt about our surprise over the turkey, so he wouldn’t help us clean up.
Kai and I cleaned and did the dishes while Kevin watched Amari.
It felt like old times—being in the kitchen with Kai.
When we first moved into our apartment, he used to always help me clean up after we ate dinner.
A lot of times, it would end up with us joking and laughing together.
It felt a little awkward cleaning together this time.
Our relationship hasn’t felt the same since we had Amari.
It became more serious and not as playful as it used to be.
I miss playing around with him and acting childish.
Even though we are two kids who had a child, I still miss the playful times we had.
These past couple of weeks, I have felt great being with him.
There has been less tension. He has been staying home and seems to enjoy staying home with us instead of being out with his friends all night.
It feels good. I’ve been less stressed. The shadow that roamed around us when we were under the same roof has disappeared.
The sound of someone knocking on the door echoes through the apartment. “Come in!” I yell.
“It’s locked,” Kevin says.
“I’m surprised you lock it,” I say, and Kevin rolls his eyes at me.
“Hi,” Paige says and gives me an unexpected hug. She usually goes straight for Amari before realizing my presence.
She holds out her arms and moves her fingers up and down. “Gimme, gimme,” she says to Kevin, who has Amari.
She pulls Amari right out of Kevin’s hands and snuggles her.
Kevin’s brows rise as he looks at Paige, shocked that she took Amari from him. “What the hell!”
“What?” Paige questions as she kisses Amari.
“I was holding her.”
“Well, now her godmother is holding her.” She avoids making any eye contact with Kevin.
“You’re not even her real godmother.”
She whips her head toward him. “Excuse me?”
“Do you call yourself that to make yourself feel more important?” He chuckles.
“No. I am her godmother.” Paige sits cross-legged on the floor with Amari on her lap.
“Whatever you have to tell yourself to feel important.”
Paige’s jaw hardens as her frown deepens. “Why are you such a dick?”
“No, thank you.”
“What? No, thank you what?”
“No, thank you. I don’t want to give you my dick.” Kevin takes a chug of his beer.
Kai and I are used to Kevin’s dry humor, so we sit here and watch them bicker without saying a word.
“Ew. I didn’t say I wanted your dick. I said you are a dick,” she says in a stern tone.
“Mhm, sure.”
Paige looks at me and Kai. I shrug my shoulders at her, and Kai attempts to hold in his laughter.
“You guys are no help.” She sighs. “Anyway. Are you guys going to do anything later tonight?”
“I’m going to a party,” Kevin says and smashes his beer can.
No wonder he started chugging beer.
My heart sinks wondering if Kai is going to go with him. I look over at Kai, who’s been pretty quiet. I can’t read his face as he stares at Amari.
“Can I go with you?” Paige asks Kevin.
“Sure. But I’m not babysitting you if you get drunk.”
“There is never a doubt in my mind that you would ever take care of someone else other than yourself.”
“Good. We’re on the same page.”
Paige rolls her eyes and looks over at me. “B, you should come with me.”
Her eyes go wide when I give her a stern look. Kai sees her expression and looks over at me. “I’m going to stay in. You go and have fun.”
Kai turns his attention away from me when I turn back over to look at him. There is still no emotion on his face. I still can’t tell what he’s thinking.
A couple of hours later, Kai, Amari, and I bundle up in our coats and wave goodbye to Kevin and Paige as we walk back to our apartment.
I was on edge for the remainder of the night as I wait to hear the words I’m going out. But those words never came. My tension was finally released after watching only Paige and Kevin drive off to the party.
After all this time, I think Kai finally realizes the weight of his actions. Maybe he was dealing with his issues, like the death of his dad or the fear of becoming a father. Maybe Kai is finally getting it. Whatever it is or was, I’m relieved he stayed.