Chapter Eight
Monday, October 31
Dallas, TX
Kami
W ith two large cups of coffee in hand, I make a beeline to my boss, Nathan Knight’s, office. My boss is deep in concentration on his computer when I walk through the door. His fingers on the keyboard look like they’re going a mile a minute.
“Morning, boss.” I place the cup of coffee beside him. “You like your coffee black, right?”
“Like my very soul,” he says with a flat expression. Dry humor. I can work with that.
This is a bad idea, but I have to at least try.
He stops what he’s doing and looks up at me. His gaze goes from me to the large cup, then back at me. “What do you want?”
Why do I get the feeling he’s not going to buy this? “Can’t I buy a friend some coffee every now and then? You may be my boss, but we’re still friends, right?”
He shakes his head. “As good a friend that you are, Kami, you know as well as I do you’re not the type to buy coffee for me, especially at work on a whim. So let me ask again, what do you want?”
Might as well put all my cards on the table. “All right, you got me. I need your help with something personal.”
“You know as your boss I can’t get involved in your personal life,” he reminds me.
“I’m not asking you as my boss. I’m asking as a friend.”
“Go on.”
“What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
He gives an incredulous stare. “I don’t know. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
I should have thought this through. For all I know, Nathan intends to spend this holiday with his family. Who am I to take him away from that? But at the same time, what choice do I have? I need a guy who makes me go as dry as the desert to pretend to be my new boyfriend after my “breakup” with Ian. Who better than my boss?
“Is this about Ian?” he asks.
I laugh off his question. “No. Of course not. What could Ian have to do with me asking about your plans for Thanksgiving?”
“Based on what I’ve heard and seen with you two, everything.”
I cringe. “Kiera told you already, didn’t she?”
“She and my sister weren’t the only ones with eyes at the Halloween party.”
“Right.” Might as well cut to the chase. “My mom thinks Ian is my boyfriend and is expecting me to bring him home for Thanksgiving. The thing is, I can’t do that, so I need someone to come home with me and pretend to be my boyfriend for a week.” It’s the abbreviated version of events but still the gist.
“And you thought to ask me? Your boss?”
“Yes. But for the record, I don’t find you that attractive.” The minute that response comes from my mouth, I cringe. I just called my boss ugly. “No offense.”
Nathan’s stare remains flat “Thanks for your…candor, Kami. But tell me, is it that you can’t bring him home, or rather you don’t want to?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it.”
Because he took advantage of my situation. Because he’s annoying and refuses to leave me alone. Because his interest in me is making me feel things I’ve never felt before, which terrifies me.
I remain silent.
“I’ll tell you what.” He picks up the large cup. “I’ll accept this coffee—but not your proposal.”
“What? That’s not fair.” I attempt to grab the drink from his hand. “If you’re saying no, I’m taking the coffee back.”
He pulls the coffee cup closer to him and out of my reach. “No, Kami, I think you’re the one that’s not playing fair. You’re turning Ian, a really great guy, down when you haven’t given him a chance. Maybe if you give him the benefit of the doubt, you’ll see he has more to offer than a good time. And as great as it is that my brother’s relationship with his assistant worked out for the better, I’m not interested in trying to repeat history.”
“But nothing sexual has to happen between us. It’ll all be for show to my family. No one will know because there will be nothing to tell,” I assure.
His expression softens. “I’m sorry, Kami. I understand where you’re coming from, but I’m not comfortable putting my career, and possibly my balls, in jeopardy.”
“Why do you think your manhood would be in danger?”
“Because if I were Ian, I’d be pretty pissed off finding out that the woman I like is replacing me with some other guy. Worse when it’s someone he knows.”
He’s right. If I were in Ian’s shoes, I’d be just as pissed with me too.
I sigh. “Enjoy the coffee.”
I walk back to my desk in defeat. Maybe he’s right. What if replacing Ian won’t have the effect I want? Rather, the opposite? On top of that, I don’t think convincing Ian I don’t need his help would be an easy task.
I was so determined to avoid Ian that I didn’t realize I never thought my plan through.
I plop down in my chair when a text notification pops up on my phone. I recognize the number as the same one that left the voicemail from yesterday. Ian.
Can’t wait for Thanksgiving! ;)
Ian
The toaster pops out two pieces of toast as I cook my mom scrambled eggs. The smell of breakfast cooking fills her tiny kitchen.
“That smells good, sweetie,” my mom hollers from the living room. Her morning talk show plays on the TV as she sits in her recliner.
“Thanks, Mom. Breakfast is almost ready,” I tell her.
I slide the eggs from the pan and onto a plate, then spread butter on one piece of toast and peanut butter on the other. Just how she likes it.
Breakfast in hand, I walk into the living room, clearing my throat. “I have an order for the best mom in the world.”
She laughs at my flattery. “Oh, please.”
I laugh as I set down the plate on a tray next to her. Once I do, I pull her morning pills from my pocket and set them beside her plate.
I sit down on the couch next to her recliner as she starts digging in. “How are you feeling today, Mom?”
She gives me a warm smile. “I’m fine, honey. Just like yesterday.”
“Yesterday was yesterday. How’s your energy? Have you had some water since you woke up?”
“I’m fine, Ian, I promise. I’m old, not helpless.” Her smile puts me at ease. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting the bar ready?”
“Yeah, but I figured I’d spend some time with you before then.” But that’s not the only reason I came to see Mom.
Since that phone call with Kami’s mom, I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell my mother I wouldn’t be with her and the family Thanksgiving weekend like every year before. That, rather, I was going to be in Abilene with a woman I’m trying to convince to go out with me. Damn, the more I think about it, the more I start to question my sanity.
Was it wrong to insert myself into Kami’s life the way I did? Maybe, but what choice did I have? Would she have hated me more if I told her mom the truth? Definitely. Either scenario, she’s mad at me. And she isn’t one to share her thoughts and feelings very easily.
Based on the information I’ve gathered, she doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. In fact, she seems to take most of what life has to offer by the balls. Her avoidance of something more than a hookup however, makes me wonder if she’s afraid of love.
“Spend some time with me? Honey, for the past decade we’ve spent nothing but time together.” My emotions must be on my face because then she asks, “What’s on your mind?”
I take a deep breath. “Would you be okay if I wasn’t home for Thanksgiving?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Is this about the girl that yelled at you in the bar the other day?”
“You know about that?”
“She yelled loud enough for the whole bar to hear. Everybody knows.”
I look away sheepishly. “Yeah, it’s about her.”
“What’s her name?”
“Kami.” I smile at the sound of her name.
“What a pretty name. From the look on your face, I’d say you’re smitten with her.” She pauses. “What did you do to piss her off?”
How do I explain this? I spend the next few minutes telling her everything that’s transpired over the last forty-eight hours. “I know how it sounds—”
She lets out a hoarse laugh. “Son, you’ve got balls just like your daddy. No wonder she was pissed at you. For you to do all that for this one woman, you must be serious about her.”
“I am.”
“It seems you’ve already made up your mind about going, so why ask me anyway?”
“I didn’t want you to feel blindsided. But if you feel that you need me with you, I’ll drop—”
“Stop.” She speaks softly, placing a hand on my arm. “This is not the time in your life to prioritize others before yourself. If you’re serious about her, go get her. Win her heart. Don’t let me get in the way. Not anymore. My health has been good for some time, and I’ll be surrounded by our family.”
“But—”
“No buts, Ian. For too long I’ve taken your life away from you. I took time that you could have used to settle down sooner.” She starts crying. “You’ve put your life on hold for me for so long. You need to start living your life.”
I move from the couch and kneel down in front of her. “Mom, there’s nothing to apologize for. Life happened. Your health had to come first, and I couldn’t let Katy continue to put her life on hold for me any longer.” We hug each other. The harder she squeezes, the more emotional I feel. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too. Can you do me a favor?”
I pull away from her embrace, taking my gaze back to her face. “Anything.”
“I’d like to meet her. Have a one-on-one with the woman that has you so determined.”
I chuckle. “Of course, Mom.”
Later that afternoon, after I finish prepping, I pull out my phone and text Kami.