12. Kai
Chapter 12
Kai
“Having only one bed isn’t a problem,” I say.
Leo stares at me. “It isn’t?”
“No. I’ll turn into a cat and curl up at the end of the bed. Simple.”
He wipes his hands over his face. “How does that make it better?”
I frown. “I’ve slept on your bed every night for seventeen years as a cat.” Except for the last few nights.
“That was before I knew you’re not a cat. You’re a—” He gestures to me.
“It’s not a problem.” I walk to the dressing table and pull out the chair, which turns out to be padded. Even better. “I can sleep on here. As a cat.”
Leo slumps his shoulders. “That’s not fair on you. You’re only here because of me.”
I fold my arms. “First, cats have the fantastic ability to sleep anywhere. Second, I would have been here anyway, even if I’d never revealed myself to you. I can sleep on the chair. You take the bed. It’s not a big deal. I promise.”
“That would have been different.”
“Why? Because you wouldn’t have known I was here?”
He nods. “But also because you’re tiring yourself out, for me.”
“I’m having fun, you know. I hope you are too.” If I were a cat, I’d rub around his legs while purring, but I’m not, and something tells me he’d freak out if I tried to do anything even remotely similar.
He softens his stricken expression into a smile. “I am, thanks. I just wish I knew who was behind this.”
I hold my hands up. “It’s nothing to do with me.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t think it was. Do angels have debit or credit cards?”
“Uh, no. We don’t need anything. But hey, that makes us cheap dates.” Uh-oh. Was that the wrong thing to say?
Leo opens and closes his mouth a few times. “You seemed to enjoy the meal.” His voice is strained and a little squeaky.
“It was tasty.” My eyelids droop. “Ugh, sorry.” I sit on the chair.
Leo is by my side in an instant. He kneels and cups my elbow. “Are you all right?”
“Tired. I’ll be fine after a nap.”
“I’m sorry. My freaking out over the bed is stopping you from sleeping. ”
I wave my hand. “Making sure you’re okay is the most important thing. Everything else can wait.”
He raises his hand and holds it near my face for a moment. “Thank you.” He drops his hand to his knee and curls it into a loose fist.
I respond by smiling.
His cheeks flush pink. “Nap on the bed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I need to shower and get changed anyway. Do angels need to shower?”
I stretch and yawn. “No, but like eating, it doesn’t mean we can’t. I won’t melt if I get wet,” I whisper.
I wait for Leo to get out of the way, then trudge to the bed. I sit on the edge, testing the mattress with my hands. It’s comfortable. I transform my clothes into more comfortable ones, get rid of the awful shoes, and curl up on the bed. As I drift off, Leo drapes a blanket over me. I smile. He might be freaking out, but he’s still being his sweet self. I adore him.
“Kai.” Leo shakes my shoulder gently.
Is it time to wake up? I’m still tired. I hadn’t realised how exhausted I’d get making myself visible to everyone.
“Kai. It’s almost time to go to the evening do.” He pats my head.
Without thinking, I press against his hand, exactly as I would in cat form.
He makes a strangled noise and pulls his hand away. I whimper. He sighs, rests his hand on my head, and strokes my hair. It’s nice .
“Kai.”
I crack one eye open.
Leo is sitting on his hip on the edge of the bed. His face is bright pink. “Should I leave you to sleep?”
“No. I’m okay.”
He smells of lemongrass. His messy curls are damp. He’s wearing a navy shirt with white buttons and a smart pair of jeans.
“You look great.”
His cheeks turn an even more vibrant shade of pink. “Thanks.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and moves his hand to rest on the bed between us. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and sleep more?”
I shake my head, sit, and push the blanket away. “What? And miss the party? No way. Thank you for the head pat.”
He widens his eyes. “I—wasn’t sure how else to wake you.”
“It was nice. I?—”
“Like head pats.”
I chuckle. “Yeah.” My cheeks prickle a little with heat. “You’re going to love sleeping in this bed tonight. It’s so comfy.”
Leo dips his gaze.
“Oh. No. I didn’t mean for you to feel bad. I’ll be fine on the chair. More than fine. It’s super comfy too.”
“Are—are you going to get changed?”
“Hmm… What should I wear? Something similar to you?” My clothes change into ones identical to his, al though my shirt is dark green instead of navy. “Too matchy-matchy?”
“A little. Hanna and Saffron are already convinced we’re a couple.” His eyes become unfocused. “Saffron.”
“What?”
“I bet she’s behind this room upgrade.”
“Aww, that’s sweet of her to upgrade you to a better room.”
He glares at me.
“It’s not sweet?”
“She upgraded us to a room with one bed.”
“I’m not following.”
He sighs. “Never mind.”
I graze my fingertips over his hand. “If it was Saffron, I’m sure she was only trying to be nice.”
He stares at our hands for several long moments. Eventually, he shakes his head. “ If it was Saffron, she’s trying to matchmake us.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Oh! You mean to get us together?”
“Yes.”
“Why one bed? Oh! Sex. That’s what humans do when they get together.”
Leo’s face blazes red. “Not always.”
“It’s what you do whenever you bring a guy home.”
He puts his hands over his face, stands, and turns his back on me.
“What? It’s great that you meet people who make you happy.”
He groans loudly .
“You deserve to be happy, Leo.”
He turns slowly.
I smile.
He returns to the bed and pats my head. “You’re sweet. Don’t change. But also, don’t mention me having sex in front of any of my family. Ever.”
“I won’t.”
“And change into something less matchy-matchy. Please?”
I change the cut of my shirt, although not the colour. Not much matches vivid red hair. “Better?”
“Yes. You look nice.”
“Thanks.”
He holds out his hand. “We should go.”
I take his hand and let him help me off the bed. “So, what happens at the evening do?”
“More food, but it’ll be buffet style, so you can eat as much or as little as you want, and no one will notice if you don’t eat anything.” We leave the room and lock the door behind us. “Saffron and Jensen will cut their wedding cake at some point. They’ll have a first dance, and then everyone else will be free to dance. Other than that, it’ll be a lot of sitting around and talking.”
“Dance?”
Leo gives me a sideward glance. “No.”
“Aww, come on, I bet you have some great moves.”
“I have two left feet.”
I frown. “I’ve seen your feet. You have nice feet. You have a right one and a left one. Is it even possible to have two left feet? ”
He groans and rolls his eyes. “It’s a figure of speech. Never mind. I can’t dance.”
“Says who?”
“Me and every guy whose feet I’ve ever stepped on in a nightclub.”
“Well, I don’t mind if you step on my feet. Promise you’ll dance with me at least once. Please ?”
He sighs. “Fine. Once. But don’t blame me if you end up limping.”
“I won’t. Tonight is going to be fun.”
He touches my wrist. “Kai.”
“Hmm?”
“The evening do will go on really late. We can leave whenever you need. I don’t want you to get too tired because of me.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Wh—what happens when an angel uses all their energy?”
I shrug. “Dunno. I’ve never done it.”
“Don’t. Okay?”
Aww. Is he worried about me? He is so sweet. “I won’t. I promise. I’ll tell you when I need to rest.”
“Thank you.”
The red and gold room has been transformed again. The tables and chairs have been moved to the edges of the room to make space for a temporary dance floor. Tables hold a three-tier wedding cake and a buffet, which guests are already helping themselves to. We’re not the first to arrive, but we’re also by no means the last. Everyone has changed into party clothes, except the bridal party who still have their wedding finery on.
“We could dance now while it’s sort of quiet,” I suggest.
“We can’t.”
“Why?”
“No one is meant to dance until the happy couple has had their first dance.”
“Oh.” No wonder the dance floor is empty, apart from two toddlers sitting and swaying each other’s arms.
“As I said, there will be a lot of sitting around and talking. Speaking of which.”
Hanna swoops across the room towards us. She grabs our hands. “Well, don’t you two look lovely. The perfect—” She gives us a knowing look. “ Friends .”
“Hanna, I don’t suppose you know why our room got upgraded, do you?”
“No, but it sounds wonderful. I’d love to get upgraded. Why? Is there a problem?”
Leo sighs. “No.”
“Well, I must mingle, but I just had to come across and say hello to you.” She pats my cheek. “I don’t know where Leo found you, but I like you. I hope the two of you remain friends for a long time.”
I have no idea what to say, so I smile. “I hope so too.” I glance at Leo.
He’s blushing again. He catches my eye and smiles, revealing his knee-weakening dimples .
“Have fun.” Hanna rushes past us to talk to someone else.
“Does that happen whenever you take a guy to a family thing?” I ask Leo.
“I’ve never taken a guy to a family event, which is probably why everyone’s decided we’re a couple.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have offered to come with Leo as his plus-one. I didn’t realise everyone would jump to conclusions. Not that I mind, but he seems pretty flustered by it.
“Would it help if we spent time apart?” I ask.
Leo pinches his brows together. “Would you be all right if we do?”
“My energy won’t run down faster if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Yes, but you don’t know anyone.”
“Sure, I do. I know Hanna and Sophia, and I know Saffron. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I can keep myself occupied if it makes you feel more comfortable.”
He sucks his lower lip into his mouth. “No. I like hanging out with you.”
I grin. “You do?”
“Yes. You’re fun. You’re much more ‘go with the flow’ than I am.”
“I assume that’s a good thing.”
He laughs. “Yes, it is. Let’s check out the buffet.”
I go with him but don’t pick up a plate. While Leo loads his plate up with a variety of finger foods, I check out the cake. It’s cream with white roses .
“Are the roses real?” I ask Leo.
“I think they’re made out of sugar paste.”
I stare at him.
“Which means they’re edible.”
“Oh. They look amazing.”
“Cake decorating is a million miles out of my wheelhouse.”
“Your—?”
“Things I can do. Sorry, it’s another saying.”
“There seem to be a lot of sayings to learn.”
“You’ll get there.” He nudges my arm and points to an empty table.
Not that it stays empty for long. Less than five minutes after we sit, Sophia and her family join us.
“Aren’t you hungry, Kai?” Sophia asks.
I’m the only one at the table without a plate.
“No. The wedding breakfast was huge.”
I still don’t understand why it’s called a wedding breakfast. I get the first meal after a couple is married, but why didn’t they eat breakfast food if it’s called breakfast? Leo eats cereal when he’s working, but on his days off, when he has more time, he often makes a bacon sandwich or even a fried breakfast. My mouth waters as I recall how delicious and juicy his cooked breakfasts smell. I’ll have to ask if I can have a taste next time he makes himself one.
Leo clicks his fingers in front of my eyes. “Earth to Kai.”
I blink. “Huh?”
“You seemed miles away. Where did you go? ”
“Um… nowhere. I was right here.”
He quirks his mouth into an amused squiggle.
“That’s another saying, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He nods to the cake table. “Saffron and Jensen are about to cut the cake. Then they’ll have their first dance.”
I perk up. “Then we can dance?”
“I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.”
“Nope. You promised me one dance.”
He holds his finger up. “One. If we do dance together, it’ll only make everyone even more convinced that we’re a couple.”
“Why? Can’t friends dance together?”
“It’s a wedding.”
“And?”
He shakes his head. “Never mind.”
Saffron and Jensen pretend to cut the cake for five minutes for the photographer before finally cutting it for real. Everyone claps and cheers and then falls silent as the newly married couple step onto the dance floor. The DJ plays a romantic song. Saffron and Jensen dance slowly, holding each other close. Their love for each other is palpable, especially when they stare into each other’s eyes.
“Beautiful,” I whisper.
“They look really happy,” Leo says.
As soon as the song has ended, the DJ plays an upbeat disco track. Saffron and Jensen drag people onto the dance floor. Eventually, she approaches our table and grabs Leo’s hand .
“Come on, Leo. Dance.” She beckons to me. “And you.”
I don’t need convincing. I’ve never danced before, but how hard can it be? I join Leo on the dance floor and do what everyone else does—shuffle my feet and bounce my body in time to the beat. The more I do it, the more relaxed I get. It’s not long before I’m doing whatever feels natural, not caring whether I’m any good at dancing or not or what anyone around me thinks. Leo’s dancing is more restrained and awkward than mine. We’re a short distance apart.
“This is fun!” I say.
Leo smiles, his eyes warm. What is he thinking?
The song ends.
“I’m done,” Leo says.
I pout. “Aww, but we were just starting to have fun. One more dance?”
He sighs and hangs his head. “Fine. One more dance.”
“Yay! You’re the best.”
The next song is equally upbeat. Leo’s movements are a little more free and relaxed than before. He’s smiling more too, so I get to gawp at his beautiful dimples and sparkling eyes. At the end of the song, he points to the table we were sitting at. Even my best pout doesn’t stop him from sitting.
I continue to dance. Hanna joins me. She takes my hand and encourages me to twirl her down my arm and out again, then around in a circle. I lose track of time as one song melds into another. People I haven’t been introduced to dance with me for a song before moving along. I make sure to catch Leo’s eye at the start of every song. I gesture for him to join me, but he shakes his head. He’s smiling, so I assume he’s happy sitting on the sidelines.
A slow song starts. I come to an abrupt halt. The room spins. Exhaustion grips me.
“Kai.” Leo cups one hand around my elbow and puts the other on my hip, steadying me.
“I’m okay.” I step forward into him and rest my head on his shoulder. “Just need a moment to recharge.”
Leo’s close presence acts like a power source, making me feel better with every passing second.
“Um. We should at least pretend we’re dancing.” He shuffles his feet, slowly manoeuvring us in a circle.
I’m too tired to do anything but let him take the lead. I put my hands on his waist because having them hanging limply by my sides seems wrong. Everything fades away except the warm strength of Leo’s arms, the beat of his heart, the scent of lemongrass, and the music’s soft melody.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“I’m supposed to be the one looking after you.”
“I’m safe here. Nothing’s going to happen. Let me take care of you.”
I smile and close my eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’s your first wedding and probably the first time you’ve danced all night. ”
“All night?”
“Well, for most of the night. I hope you’re having fun.”
“Uh-huh. It would have been more fun if you were dancing with me.”
“I am right now.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, but you didn’t have trouble finding people to dance with. People gravitated to you.”
I chuckle sleepily. “It must be my magnetic personality.”
“Sounds about right.”
The song ends and another begins, this one a little more upbeat.
“Do you want to sit?” Leo asks.
“I need to sleep. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s late, and I’m getting tired as well. Come on.”
He lets me lean on him as we leave the room.
On the way out, Saffron intercepts us. “Thanks so much for coming. Will we see you at breakfast?”
“Probably. Thanks for inviting us. We’ve had a great time,” Leo says.
I’ve managed to open my eyes, so hopefully, I don’t look quite as exhausted as I feel. I wait for Leo to ask her about our room upgrade, but the question never comes.
“I hope to see you tomorrow as well, Kai. It was lovely meeting Leo’s friend .”
I smile. “ And you. Congrats.”
Leo steers me past her, through corridors, and upstairs to our room. Once there, he gets me to the bed. I flop onto it.
“Give me a sec, and I’ll change into a cat and sleep on the chair.”
Leo sits beside me. “No need.”
I lay the back of my hand on my forehead and stare at him. “Huh?”
“Sleep in the bed.”
“As a cat?”
“However you want. You’re tired. You should be comfortable. Besides, the bed is huge. I’ll barely know you’re there. Or I could sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t you dare.” I frown. “You were freaking out about the idea of sharing a bed earlier.”
“I still am, but you’re exhausted, Kai, and the closer you are to me, the better, right?”
I nod.
“Then sleep in the bed. I’ll cope.”
“Thank you.”
He smiles. “I’m going to get ready for bed. I don’t suppose angels have to brush their teeth, do they?”
“No.”
He chuckles. “Get some sleep.” He takes a T-shirt out of his overnight bag and enters the en suite, turning off the main room light.
I lie on the edge of the far side of the bed, with my back to the centre of it. My eyelids are too heavy to keep open. I’m weary but also happy and grateful. It’s been a great day, and Leo is an awesome human.