Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
KENZIE
The following week was a whirlwind. I popped in and out of the store to set up bank accounts and negotiate prices with suppliers. I worked on the computer in the office to run a cost analysis for the expansion into providing desserts to local eateries.
“You'll do great, Kenzie,” Gabriel tells me.
“I know,” I reply. “But I don’t feel it.” Life has shown me that nothing in life is certain. Suddenly, I feel so alone. I have employees who depend on me for paychecks.
“I'm a phone call away,” he reassures me. I hug him.
“Thank you for everything. I wouldn't be here without you.”
“Nonsense. You were a willing student. Good things will come your way.” He smiles as if he has the inside track on my fate. I want to believe him. The optimism he has is invigorating.
Gabriel is flying to Florida to start his next chapter, and it's bittersweet for me. My mentor is gone.
My life has had many ups and downs. Fighting cancer is scary, and so is recovery. After high school, I was on a fast track to accomplish everything on my bucket list. And now I’ve reached a milestone. I can tick off one box on my bucket list. I've fulfilled my career goal sooner than expected.
The man of my dreams? Not so much. Falling in love doesn’t come easy. Will Mikael ever return my feelings? If it all goes South, I’m comforted by the fact there are available men out there, and that restores my faith in humanity.
Will Cupid always be temperamental?
Probably.
I console myself in the fact that I've been able to fall in love. I've proven to myself that I'm emotionally available. I am capable of loving someone, and maybe one day, someone will love me in return.
This week was full of changes. I promoted Sylvie to my position before I headed home, knowing she'd lock up behind me.
Sherlock greets me with a whine when I enter the apartment.
“I'm sorry, boy, it's been a hectic week,” I pet him before I pour kibble into his bowl. “You're hungry, aren't you?” I watch him eat. His tail wags as he paces between me and his food.
“Sherlock, let's go for a walk before it gets dark.” He excitedly rushes to the door. He’s smart. Besides, he’s been inside for hours and I’m sure he needs to go. I put his leash on and we walk out the door and we take the sidewalk that leads to the park.
There is a foot of snow on the ground, and he enjoys the fresh air. Sherlock walks, stops, and sniffs, wagging his tail the entire time. I think of Mikael when we reach the lake. I take in the winter scenery and pull my jacket closer for warmth. I'm pleased with my life but lament the fact that Mikael hasn’t made a move.
Maybe this is as good as it gets. I plan to focus on the shop. Mikael is in a wait-and-see situation. I refuse to get excited over his newly minted single status. His track record is one of rebounding quickly. I expect him to show up at the shop with a new date tomorrow. Why does he introduce his girlfriends to me? Does he take a perverse pleasure in torturing me? He doesn't take offense when I'm brutally honest. He tolerates my flippant comments. But then again, friends can bounce things off each other and not get offended.
Friends.
Ugh. Will he ever see me as anything more?
We return home, and I whip up a shepherd's pie for dinner. I play a favorite chick flick on the TV to keep my mind off Mikael.
Bo breezes into the apartment. “Just in time,” I announce as I pull dinner out of the oven and place it on a hot pad to cool.
“It smells yummy,” she says, taking off her sky-high heels and winter coat. “How are things going?” She plops her purse on the edge of the counter and greets Sherlock. “How are you, boy?”
He nuzzles into her leg. I glance at them and watch as she scratches behind his ears, and he makes a friendly murmur that implies, “This feels good.”
“I accomplished so much today,” I say and pour myself an iced tea. My energy has hit a wall, and I’m crashing. But my mind is in overdrive.
“Are you still on for the grand opening this week?” Bo asks.
“Yes. Did you make graphics to post to social media?” I pull dinner plates from the cupboard.
“Yes, I did. I used my break time to list the specials, too. I'll post to your account tonight.” Bo joins me in the kitchen. “I'm excited for you. I can't believe it's happening.”
“That makes two of us!” I gasp. I scoop food onto our plates and hand one to her. My phone pings as we sit.
Are you ready for the grand opening?
I'm getting there. Bo is helping with social media.
I'm in the neighborhood. Can I stop by?
Sure.
“Who was that?” Bo asks.
“Mikael.”
“And?”
“He's stopping by. I don't know why. Maybe he has a new girlfriend,” I reply sarcastically.
“Y'know, I hope he wakes up and realizes that you two are perfect for each other. If he brings another woman here, I'll hit him.”
I choke on my food. I grab my tea and gulp it to clear my throat.
“He needs a good whap upside the head anyway. Honestly, I don't know how much longer I can wait for him. When we go out, everyone thinks we're a couple. No man will hit on me with him in the picture. It's not fair. My odds of getting a man would be statistically better if he were gay.”
Bo spits food onto her plate and sputters.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yes. But my God, that's extreme, don't you think?” Bo runs her hand through her disheveled long dark hair and tucks her bangs behind her ears.
“No. I mean, he's straight, but if I continue to hang out with him, I'll never get a date.”
“You have a point. How did your sexy outfit work out?”
“He seemed to notice, and we had breakfast yesterday. He broke up with Chelsey, did I tell you?”
“No. That’s good though, right?”
“I don’t know. He’ll pick up a newbie within twenty-four hours,” I reply dourly. He rushes in with the women who aren’t for him and I sit on the sidelines waiting and we’re perfect for each other. It boggles my mind. Cupid must be on acid. It makes no sense.
“Augh. I can’t even think about Mikael, it’s too frustrating. Did you inquire as to who my investment angel is? It feels strange, taking money from a stranger.”
“Don't feel like you owe them. It's an investment, and they will make money off your success until you buy them out,” she deadpans.
“I get that, but I'd like to know who it is just the same.”
“What does it matter? You bought the shop, and the rest will take care of itself.” Bo takes another bite of dinner. “By the way, this is the most incredible Shepherd's Pie. You might have to add this to the shop's menu. What did you do differently?”
“I used prime rib leftovers and Guinness gravy,” I smugly reply. I had to make two batches of gravy because I can eat it as a soup without anything added—it's that incredible. “I added a gravy packet with the flavorings. It kicked it up a notch and gave it the rich caramel color.”
“I'm gaining weight just looking at it,” she teases, taking another mouthful.
Sherlock barks before the doorbell sounds.
My heart pitter-patters. I race to the door filled with the enthusiasm of a teenage girl waiting for her first boyfriend.
I take a breath before I unlock the door.
Calm down, Kenzie.
“Hi!” I greet him as his citrus-scented cologne engulfs me.
“Hey, did I interrupt dinner?” His eyes survey the table and he says, “Hi, Bo!”
“Mikael, what's up?” Bo replies. “Can I make a plate for you? Trust me when I say you don't want to miss this. It's addictive.”
Mikael takes his coat off and hangs it on the coat rack by the door. He says hello to Sherlock and pets him. His tail wags incessantly, and when we move, he follows.
“That would be nice. Everything Kenzie makes is incredible.” He shifts his attention back to me, and my face warms.
Will I ever get used to him complimenting me?
“What do you want to drink?” I ask.
“Water, please.”
Bo walks to the kitchen, makes a plate for Mikael, and I grab a glass and fill it with cold water. Bo places his plate on the table and then he sits. She strategically placed his dinner next to me. She's a brat.
I set the water before Mikael then I sit in my chair. I watch as he takes his first bite.
“This is rich and has so much flavor,” he comments after he takes a bite.
“Thanks. I like to experiment,” I shrug as if it's nothing.
His cologne covers the distance between us. I observe his chiseled chin and his blue eyes lock with mine. I'm horny, and my pussy is wet. I yearn for his slender fingers to caress me.
Dream on, Kenzie.
I sigh.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I'm tired,” I mumble to cover up the fact that I was drooling over him. I’m mesmerized by his slender hands and his perfect smile. I even smile to smooth over the obsessed look in my eyes.
“Will you be at the opening?” Bo asks him.
“Sure. I wouldn't miss it,” he replies before he takes the last bite of his dinner.
I wonder when he ate last because he woofed down my food like he was starving.
“Bo will post to social media every day this week. The local news channel will be there. I think it will work out.”
“Oh, no,” Bo gasps, staring at her phone screen.
“What?” I ask, alarmed.
“We're expected to get a mini blizzard the day before your opening.”
“No!” I eek. “Oh, no. That would suck.” I invested my monthly budget for advertising in this launch. The ice sculpture centerpieces are non-refundable. The cakes have to be fresh. Everything has to be perfect.
“The weather changes quickly. Maybe it will be delayed and hit after your big day,” Mikael says.
I appreciate his optimism but my livelihood is riding on this holiday. Besides, it’s not his grand opening.
“You're right. Maybe the wind will shift, and it will miss us,” Bo adds.
“We have no choice,” I say. “It's a wait-and-see situation.” My shoulders slump. If my love life isn’t bad enough, now I have Old Man Winter who is unleashing his wrath and it’s happening on my important day. It’s one day out of the year in which I need everything to run smoothly and I get a snowstorm from hell.
Cupid and apparently, winter have done me in!
Bo gives me an encouraging look and I could punch her for being so happy. “I'm sure it will work out,” she says. I know she means well but frankly, her optimism is annoying because as much as I want to jump on her bandwagon, I can’t! She pats my hand for reassurance as I place our dinner plates into the kitchen sink.
“It will work out, Kenzie,” Mikael states. “Have faith.”
Yeah, still not feeling it but I don’t want to be a downer in front of Mikael. “I hope you’re right because I ordered decorations, and they were pricy. Did you know red roses are more than triple what they normally are this week?”
“I've heard about that. However, I've personally never ordered flowers on this holiday,” Mikael beams as he smugly leans back in his chair.
“Oh?” I question him. “I find that difficult to believe.”
He chuckles. He's aware of the fact he has me in his social loop. “I get that—however, I make a point of not having a girlfriend for holidays—or Valentine's Day.”
“Is that why you broke up with Chelsey?” Bo asks out of curiosity.
“She made me choose between her or you, Kenzie,” he says as he glances at me. And that’s when I noticed a change in his tone. It’s softer—personal. There’s a glint in his eye that I can’t identify. His lips turn into a smile.
I'm surprised he's speaking about his reason for the breakup. His honesty is a huge turn-on. “I don't let anyone dictate who can be my friend,” he says as his eyes bore into me. It’s as if we just had sex and we’re in the afterglow. What is happening?
He breaks away to look at Bo. “Besides, she was ready for the next step,” he pauses, then thoughtfully adds, “But emotionally we were in different places.”
Bo nods with understanding and then she shoots me a look that says, “I told you so.”
does this mean Mikael is into me?
“What can I do to help?” Mikael asks as I clear our drinking glasses off the table.
“I have it all under control,” I rattle my response without flinching. I quickly load the dishwasher. Even if I needed help, I would never ask him. Bo and I instinctively do for each other. However, it’s nice he was kind enough to offer.
“What are you up to tonight?” I ask Mikael, curious as to his evening plans.
“I'm free. I wondered if you would be watching Vikings tonight. A new episode is airing.”
“Yes, we are,” Bo excitedly interjects before she collects our empty dinner plates.
“I'll turn the TV on,” I say, walking into the living room. My heart is beating loudly in my ears. I glance at Mikael to see if he heard it, even though I know it's impossible.
“I'll make popcorn,” Bo says, grabbing a microwavable bag and popping it into the microwave. “What are you drinking?” she asks Mikael.
“I don’t care,” he replies.
“Water, beer?” she questions him again, wanting his night here to be perfect.
“Water is fine.” He follows me into the living room and sits beside me. “Thank you for dinner.”
“No problem.”
Bo starts the microwave and returns to us with the water, which she hands to him. I'm jittery due to how close he sits to me. and nervously bounce a knee.
Bo turns the TV show on, and the recap from last week is streaming. The backdrop of popping corn brings back memories of TV night as a kid. It's a good memory of drama-free family time and G-rated shows.
Bo joins us and hands me a bowl of popcorn to share with Mikael. She gives me a side glance that implies, “I told you so. ”
I reach into it for popcorn, and Mikael's hand touches mine. He doesn't pull away like he did with the bowl of parmesan cheese at the restaurant.
Is he into me?
Or, did I imagine it?
An hour later, the show ends, and Mikael stands to leave.
I walk him to the door. He puts his hands on my waist and pulls me toward his chest. “You need to rest.”
“I do,” I lie. I sleep like shit most nights.
“I doubt that,” he whispers before his lips touch mine.
The earth moves. I lean into him, and the kiss deepens. I slide my arms around his neck, hoping I'm not smothering him.
I close my eyes. His lips are warm and perfect. My foot pops as his tongue enters my mouth.
His hands tighten around my waist. I inhale his scent and am oblivious to Sherlock, who is curled up at my feet.
Is this real?
Just as I run out of breath, Mikael pulls away.
“Good night,” he says and slips out the door.
“I can't believe I witnessed that!” Bo exclaims as she leaps from the couch. Sherlock runs to her, jumps with his arms in the air, and lays his paws on her chest. This is our happy dance, and I join in.
I'm stunned and overwhelmed with joy.
“He kissed me,” I yell before I leap into the air.
Needless to say, I won't be going to sleep anytime soon.