Chapter Forty-One
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
It took everything she had, every scrap of energy, for her to crawl out of bed, shower, dress, and book a ride to the restaurant. Kya had promised her brother that she would join him and his friends at brunch, and was intent on keeping that promise. Even though, she realized how foolish it was to commit to a brunch the morning after a music festival. What was she thinking? She was exhausted, and that word didn’t fully paint the picture, didn’t account for her aching muscles, pounding headache, and the pinch in her lower back. Kya was young by all measures, but the age of hopping on friends’ shoulders was long gone. Never again!
Last night, after they were reunited with Quinn, they headed to the far edges of the crowd to enjoy the rest of the concert. They didn’t leave until the last DJ shut it down with a solid performance. And then there was a long line to file out at the park, and the even longer line of cars to file out of the parking garage. Hungry and still a little rowdy, the group decided to meet at the all-night diner where Kya and Quinn had first had pancakes after the sunrise set at Space. They slipped into a corner booth and ordered stacks of waffles and pancakes, plates of sausage and eggs, hash browns, and whatever else was on the menu – they’d ordered it all. While they feasted like kings, they relived the night, swapping stories, photos, anecdotes, and any bit of gossip they’d picked up. Quinn told them all about the tent where she’d been held up until it was her time to take the stage, who she’d hung out with, and among them, which were utter arses whom she would never speak to again. They parted with the others around four in the morning. Kya and Quinn kept right on talking as they brushed their teeth, filling each other in on every minute they’d been apart. Then, they collapsed into bed, quickly stripping off the pyjamas they’d only just put on. Now, five short hours later, Kya was off to brunch?
She wasn’t hungry.
She was all talked out.
All she wanted was to curl up next to her girl and sink into the warmth of her body, but she’d promised her brother and she’d keep that promise.
Kya left Quinn a few notes scattered around the apartment. They all said the same thing: Meeting Adrian for brunch. Back soon! She left yet another note stuck to the front door: Seriously, it’s not like last time. I’m coming home straight after. In the ride, she followed up with a text message, saying pretty much the same things, adding, Miss you already.
Quinn replied a moment later with a simple heart emoji that set Kya’s heart on fire. She imagined her reaching for the phone, typing the one-symbol response before slipping back to sleep. Kya dreamed of coming home to her, every day, forever.
The restaurant was at a nearby hotel with umbrella-topped tables scattered around the pool. She should’ve known Hugo would pick a stunning location. As she walked past the buffet, with a spread of everything anyone could crave, ever, her mood lifted, and her appetite returned. The hostess led her to the table where Adrian, Hugo, Samantha, and Roman were gathered, mimosas already in hand.
‘Girlie, you had a rough night!’ Hugo exclaimed. ‘I want to hear all about it.’
Kya lowered her eyes. She was a hot mess! She’d picked her clothes up off a chair in the corner of Quinn’s room. The outfit had looked nice on her a couple days ago, and still looked nice, although wrinkled. She’d swiped on make-up – mascara and lipstick – on the ride over. She’d added dark sunglasses for a moody rockstar vibe. By sharp contrast, Adrian, Hugo, Samantha, and Roman looked as fresh as the Sunday morning.
It was too much. Kya wanted to turn and leave.
Thank God for big brothers! Adrian stood to hug her, pulled out her chair, and set a cup of coffee before her. ‘Kya, this is Roman and Samantha,’ he said.
‘Good to meet you,’ Roman said.
‘Yeah, same!’ She slid off her sunglasses, smiled, and tried her best to look friendly.
Roman, with his chestnut brown skin and dark features, was more handsome than she’d imagined. Samantha was so pretty. Her tawny brown skin soaked up the sun and her brown hair fell in soft ringlets past her shoulders. As pretty as she was, Kya thought Quinn even more so, with the sort of face you could hold in your hands and stare at endlessly and always find something new and surprising – a dimple, a freckle, a gleam in her eye.
‘Okay, that’s out of the way,’ Hugo said. ‘Tell us how Quinn did last night.’
‘Don’t harass her!’ Samantha said to Hugo. ‘She just got here!’
Despite this, four pairs of eyes were pinned on her, waiting expectantly.
‘She played the set of her life, I think.’
Hugo hammered the table with his fists. ‘Good for her!’
The waiter came to take her order. ‘You can have anything you want,’ Adrian said, as if she were a child he had to coax to eat. Kya ordered a poached egg topped with caviar, fresh berries, more coffee, and a mimosa just for fun. When the food arrived, she dug into it, like a child, as if she hadn’t eaten for days.
‘I hear you’re interested in founding a startup,’ Roman said.
The man didn’t waste time, did he?
‘Where did you hear that?’ Kya asked.
‘I told him,’ Adrian said.
‘I’d like to hear your ideas,’ Roman said.
Kya had zero ideas, so she presented Jon’s. ‘Is a media startup a thing?’
‘Definitely.’
Roman shot out a list of every mainstream media outlet that had started out as a feed, a blog, or just a series of photos on now forgotten social media platforms. ‘The important thing is to have a message,’ he said. ‘A message, and a target population who needs that information.’
Arguably, she had those two things. Could it be that simple? Maybe the problem was that she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur, a founding father, a visionary of that sort. Besides, didn’t you have to start in your parents’ garage, tinkering with something or the other, labouring in silence, for ages , before you sought financing and brought that thing to market?
Samantha intervened. ‘Can’t you see you’re freaking her out?’
Kya loved her for it.
‘Kya doesn’t freak out easily,’ Hugo said.
She loved him for the vote of confidence, but he was dead wrong. She freaked out all the freaking time.
Samantha turned to Kya. ‘Unlike the men here, I’m the only one who’s sort of done what you’re thinking of doing, and I can tell you it’s not easy. It takes time. I was finally able to quit my job last year.’
‘That’s impressive.’
Admittedly, Kya didn’t know much about Samantha, the sort of content she created, how she got her curls to curl like that, or anything outside the fact that she’d met Roman at an epic wedding in Tobago. The memory of that trip had Hugo in a chokehold, and for a while it was all he could talk about. That aside, she was the only person at the table making sense right now.
‘What is it you do, again?’ Kya asked.
‘I’m a travel vlogger, and I’ve written two travel guides.’
‘Nice.’
‘My point is you do not have to quit your job or get bankers involved. You can start slow.’
‘Kya doesn’t have a job to quit,’ Hugo said. ‘So, she’s fine.’
Kya pivoted to Quinn in a desperate attempt to change the subject. ‘Do you guys want to see the video I took of Quinn on stage?’
It worked like a charm. She handed over her phone and went back to enjoying her brunch without having to contemplate her future. Funny, just this morning, 5 a.m. to be exact, she felt differently. So much so, she wrote a draft post all about the thrill of diving off the deep end into the unknown. She might’ve welcomed this conversation then. Right now, she just wanted to sip her mimosa in peace.
When the meal was done, the guys left the table to gaze longingly at the hotel’s golf course. Even Hugo, who only loved soccer, and only cheered for Brazil, tagged along, hand in hand with Adrian, leaving Kya alone with Samantha.
‘Hey,’ Samantha said, edging closer.
Her British accent was different from Quinn’s. In what way, Kya wasn’t sure. But everything about Quinn was just different. No matter how lovely Samantha was, no matter how phenomenal this brunch had been, Kya wished she was home with her.
‘How’s Miami so far, Samantha?’ Kya asked.
‘Call me Sam.’
Naturally. The similarities with Quinn didn’t stop at the accent. ‘All right, Sam. Are you having fun?’
‘Miami is great, but spending time with Hugo is the best.’
‘I feel the same.’
‘I’ve been watching your TikToks,’ she said.
‘Have you? That was just for fun.’
‘How can I get in on that?’ Sam asked.
‘In on what?’
‘The fun!’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘This is my last night in Miami.’
‘Okay …’
‘I want to have fun.’
‘And by fun you mean …’
‘I want to party.’
‘I see.’
‘I don’t care where we go. A club, a lounge, a dive bar, it doesn’t matter to me.’
Kya saw Sam clearly for the first time today. Underneath the lovely exterior was steel. She was on a mission, determined to get her way. Now that she knew what this was, Kya got into it. ‘Let’s coordinate with the guys—’
‘No guys.’
‘None?’
‘I want a classic girls’ night out.’
‘But—’
‘I have my reasons,’ she said. ‘I can’t get into it right now. I promise to tell you later. Trust me. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. I really, really need this.’
‘Well, if you really, really need this, I’ll see what I can do.’
Kya reached for her phone. It was sitting in the middle of the table where the others had dropped it after watching the clip of Quinn’s performance. She pulled up the group chat.
British Blogger Samantha Roberts in desperate need of a girls’ night out. Can you help?
The responses poured in, all overwhelmingly positive.
Amanda: I’m exhausted, but I’m in! Anything for a UK girl!
Quinn: Anything for you, babe.
Ivy: Just bring her to Blood Orange. We’re all going, anyway.
Quinn: We are?
Amanda: That’s news to me … and I’m sitting right across from you.
Ivy: Didn’t I tell you? Solstice afterparty. Get into it!
Kya shared the news with Sam. ‘Looks like we’re all going to an afterparty at a Wynwood speakeasy. Sound good to you?’
‘Which speakeasy? Blood Orange?’
‘You’ve heard of it?’
‘Yes, I’ve heard of it! Stalking Quinn online is my favourite thing to do. I’m a huge fan.’
‘You’re in luck. Quinn will be there, and you can tell her yourself.’
‘You make such a cute couple,’ she said. ‘If you don’t mind my saying.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘One more thing,’ Sam said. ‘Hugo is my plus-one; he’s one of the girls, always.’
Kya didn’t mind that, either. ‘No problem. Everybody loves Hugo.’
‘Wonderful.’
Sam picked up her phone and dispatched a few texts to her own group chat.
Kya slipped her sunglasses back on and sipped her mimosa. They were heading back to Blood Orange, where it all began.
After brunch, Adrian insisted on driving Kya back to Quinn’s. They piled into the SUV and when they veered onto the familiar road Sam looked around, confused. ‘Quinn lives in your old neighbourhood?’
‘She lives in our old place,’ Hugo answered. ‘She bought it from us.’
Sam lost it. ‘I love that for her! That flat is lovely. We never wanted them to leave.’
‘Not this again,’ Adrian mumbled. ‘It’s small. There’s no room to grow.’
‘There’s room to dream,’ Sam said. She went on to share her favourite memories of the tiny apartment. Sunset cocktails on the balcony. A holiday party that nearly got them evicted from the building. A kitchen fire Kya hadn’t heard about. The time Sam had slept over before that now famous trip to Tobago.
‘Good times,’ Hugo said with a forlorn sigh.
‘It’s a special place,’ Kya said. ‘I love it, too.’
They’d pulled up to the building’s entrance. Kya had a grip on the door handle, ready to take her leave, when her brother hit her with that question.
‘What’s tomorrow?’ she asked. Had she missed something?
‘You get your room back,’ Roman answered. ‘We’re clearing out. Sorry we displaced you.’
‘No worries,’ Kya replied, still unclear on how to best to handle her brother’s initial question. What had made him think she was coming back at all? The short time she had left in Miami, she intended on spending with Quinn. Except now, with her foot out the door, didn’t seem like the right time to make such a dramatic declaration.
‘Quinn is gracious,’ Adrian went on to say. ‘But it’s been a while, and I’m sure she’d like her privacy.’
She nearly laughed in his face. What privacy? She and Quinn shared everything and kept nothing from each other. How did he not know this? She turned to Hugo for an explanation. Hadn’t he told Adrian like he’d said? Hugo averted his eyes. As did Sam. Only Adrian was looking at her expectantly, waiting for an answer, and a vehicle that had pulled up behind them flashed its headlights, urging them to get a move on.
‘I don’t think Quinn has a problem with my staying.’
‘Even so,’ Adrian said. ‘I’d like to have you back. You said you’d come home for dinner this week and never did.’
‘Things got hectic,’ Kya said. ‘You know how it is.’
And if he didn’t know how it was, somebody should have told him. Someone like his husband who was staring out the window, not contributing a word to this conversation. Or someone like her. She should have just told her brother what was going on. They could have had a nice sunrise phone chat about it.
Adrian made his best pitch. ‘I’ll order our favourite foods. We’ll watch a movie and eat on the couch, like old times.’
There was no time to answer. The waiting car blared its horn. Kya hopped out and, before shutting the door, she said, ‘I’ll call you!’
As they pulled away, she stood on the kerb wondering if her brother had always been so … overbearing. No, this was new. He was likely still worried about her. If that were the case, she’d have to talk to him. In the meantime, she made a mental note never to fall apart at his house again.
She and Adrian were close, but cool about it. Sometimes, they’d go weeks without talking. From an early age, they understood each other. When he first met Hugo and worried that a ‘smoke show’ like that – his words, not hers – wouldn’t fall for a boring doctor like him, he’d sent her a screenshot of his profile with the briefest of messages: Smash or—?
To which she’d replied: Smash, for sure!!!
Guys like that don’t go for guys like me, he texted back.
Hold on. I’ll get the manual … Looks like you’re wrong, bro. Says here they absolutely do.
Kya might’ve had a sixth sense about Hugo. Although she hadn’t predicted marriage, she knew he and Adrian would hit it off. How had Adrian not known about Quinn? Did he really need a third party to clue him in? Hadn’t he picked up on her emotional turmoil?
In the elevator, Kya shot Hugo a message. Hey! Didn’t you tell him???
Hugo replied straight away. He had no doubt expected to hear from her. Nope. Sam and I talked it over. We think it’s your news to tell.
The one time she’d counted on her brother-in-law’s indiscretion, he let her down! It would have saved her an awkward conversation with Adrian. He would be happy for her, of course he would. A little too happy, maybe. He’d see this new relationship as a quick fix to all her problems. Plus, he’d have heaps of brotherly advice. So much advice, she wouldn’t know what to do with it. Much of it wouldn’t apply, anyway. She and Quinn were too new; they weren’t at the meet-the-family stage of things.
Kya: Blood Orange tonight?
Hugo: Definitely.
She pocketed her phone and put Adrian, Hugo, Sam, Roman, and the whole affair out of her mind. She was home.
The apartment was quiet when Kya let herself in. She slipped off her sandals and placed them neatly beside Quinn’s in the entryway and took the takeaway bag into the kitchen and set it on the counter. The note she’d stuck to the refrigerator, as well as the one on the front door, were missing, which meant Quinn had found them.
From the bedroom, Quinn called out, ‘Is that you, K?’
Kya went to her. She was curled in bed, the sheets down to her hips, her arms wrapped tight around a pillow.
‘Who were you expecting?’ she asked from the doorway.
Quinn stirred and raised her head off the pillow. ‘Cute outfit, babe.’
She considered the outfit she’d slapped together with little thought or care. ‘Thanks.’
‘Now take it off.’
‘Excuse me?’
She lifted the blanket, as if opening a portal to her warmth and love. ‘That’s the price of admission.’
‘No fair,’ Kya mumbled, even as she tore at her clothes. ‘You’re still dressed.’
‘Hardly! Besides, I know you love a challenge.’
Kya slipped under the blanket as soon as her bra hit the floor. Quinn drew her close, but it took some work to strip off her cotton top and get to silky skin. She told Kya where to put her hands and how to touch her. Kya would have done anything to please her, but she had her own ideas; things she’d thought about all through brunch. What resulted was the sweetest battle of wills. It was torture. It was fun. It was one climax after another until they fell, panting, on their backs.
‘That was amazing,’ Kya said, breathless.
‘ You’re amazing.’
‘No, you are.’
‘I said it first.’
‘I take it back,’ Kya said. ‘You’re a brat.’
‘Stop arguing,’ Quinn said. ‘Kiss me. I missed you this morning.’
Kya didn’t resist. She kissed her and whispered, ‘Thanks for agreeing to go out tonight. That was sweet of you.’
‘Actually, the timing is perfect,’ Quinn said. ‘I just heard from Amanda and she got the job. We likely would have gone out anyway to celebrate.’
Kya gasped. ‘Amanda got the promotion?’
‘Yes! She called me a minute ago in tears. She’s very teary lately; have you noticed? Turns out they reached out to her on Friday via email. And the message was sitting in her inbox all weekend long. Can you imagine? Ignoring your work emails and simply enjoying your holiday?’
‘I can’t imagine,’ Kya said, flatly. ‘What kind of freaks are you?’
‘The kind you like?’ Quinn suggested.
‘So, we’re back at Blood Orange,’ Kya said. ‘Full circle.’
Quinn slipped a hand under her T-shirt. ‘It’s always a good time.’
Kya sank deeper into the pillows. The scent of lavender washed over her. ‘What did you make of me when I requested that song?’
‘Honestly?’ Quinn asked.
Kya nodded, bracing herself for the absolute worst.
‘I thought you were bold for asking for what you wanted,’ she replied.
‘Bold?’ Kya couldn’t believe it. Could she not see how nervous she was at the time?
‘Yes, bold!’ Quinn said. ‘I don’t expect others to read my mind, but I don’t often ask for anything. I wait and see how things unfold.’
‘You might wait forever.’
‘It’s not the best strategy,’ she conceded. ‘I’m trying to get better at asking for the things I want, but I’m patient.’
What did Quinn want that she didn’t already have? And what did she want from her? Kya would not ask; she would wait and see. ‘How do you feel this morning?’ she asked, instead.
‘Like death. Like I’ve been run over by a truck or trampled by wild horses.’
Kya turned to her, alarmed. ‘That bad?’
‘It’s part of the job,’ Quinn said. ‘I love it. I could do it over again if they asked.’
Kya shifted uncomfortably. This might be the thing she was most envious of in the entire world, this love for the life you had, this knowing you were doing what you were put on earth to do. Would she ever have that?
‘I brought you brunch.’
‘You’re always bringing me food!’
‘Should I stop?’
‘Don’t you dare stop!’ Quinn warned. ‘I feel so pampered.’
‘That’s the goal.’
She nuzzled closer, caught Kya’s earlobe between her teeth and tugged. ‘I got your notes, silly girl,’ she whispered. ‘Don’t be so paranoid. I knew you’d be back. Nothing is like last time.’
‘I’m still so sorry for putting you through that,’ Kya said. ‘I’ll never stop apologizing.’
‘I beg you to stop!’ Quinn cried. ‘You’ve apologized and apologized. I still have that first note to prove it.’
‘Do you?’
She nodded, then did the sweetest thing and recited the note by heart only with a twist. ‘I like you a little too much, and it doesn’t scare me.’
Kya took her face between her hands. There was that gleam in her eyes, diamond bright. ‘Not even a little scared?’ she asked.
‘No,’ Quinn answered. ‘Now, what did you bring me to eat?’