Chapter 3
Chapter Three
KAIA
The funeral was rough, but I don’t think I would’ve gotten through it without Daisy. She was there beside me the entire time, wiping my tears and holding my hand, squeezing it three times in our code of “I’ve got you.”
I appreciated all my friends coming out to support me.
We all said our goodbyes at the end, and Daisy drove me back to her house, stopping for ice cream on the way.
I tried to tell her it was okay, that she didn’t need to do that but she insisted.
She said I deserved it, and I wasn’t about to turn down free ice cream.
Since he was cremated, it was more of a goodbye party than a funeral, but overall it was beautiful. Drea handled all the phone calls with them for me, and Daisy handled emails. I didn’t think I could ever repay them.
It had been almost a week since then, and I was back at the store. It felt good to try to get my life back on track. I’d been staying at Daisy’s, and it was… something.
I appreciated that I had a place to stay, and she made me breakfast every morning. How she got up earlier than me, I’d never know. She was a freelancer; she didn’t even have to get up for work.
I normally got up around five. I wanted to give myself enough time for my breakfast and morning yoga and meditation, and to take a shower and not have to feel rushed.
I was standing behind the counter, finishing up with a customer, when Drea and Blair came out from the back.
Lord only knew what they were doing back there.
After a few years ago, when I walked in on them looking like they were about to start something, I could never be too sure.
I never heard anything, so I pretended Drea was actually working back there.
Daisy was in her usual spot in a chair in the corner, reading a romance book. As a freelance illustrator, she read a lot for research. I enjoyed the view, so I never complained.
“You know you guys are friends, right? You don’t have to creepily stare at her anymore.” I whipped around to see Drea smirking at me. We had grown a lot closer since our falling out.
Daisy had helped me stand up for myself, and Blair had helped Drea see life differently. They were both vital to our lives, but I wasn’t the lucky one who had their person to go home to every night.
I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t staring creepily at her. I wasn’t staring at all. I was… surveying the store. Making sure everything’s in order.” I groaned. Even I didn’t believe the lie.
“Shut up!” I said before Drea could get a sarcastic comment out. She always teased that her best friend’s wife, Mackenzie, was a sarcastic ass, but she competed well for that title sometimes.
“Well, if you’re done… surveying, I came out here to tell you that I just got off the phone with the construction company, and they are sending out someone in a few days to start on your office. I’m sorry it’s taking so long. They are the best in the business, but they’ve been booked for months.”
I grinned. “Thank you. I told you I don’t need an office. There’s plenty of seating out here I can work from. Or your office when Blair’s not here.” I laughed at Blair’s blushing face. Those two were insatiable.
Drea cleared her throat. “Anyway, are you coming to the Christmas party? It’s at my house again.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You know parties aren’t my thing.”
“Oh, come on. It’ll be so fun! And you have Daisy now. Bring her along!”
I turned to Daisy and smiled when I caught her looking over at us. She waved and I waved back. But my smile fell when I turned away from her. I didn’t have her, and I never would.
Daisy wasn’t a serial dater, but she had been out a few times since I’d known her.
I never asked what she did on those dates.
I didn’t want to know. It would never be me on the other side of the dinner table.
It would never be me on the other side of the goodnight kiss.
Or the morning after at the breakfast table.
Daisy was extremely outgoing. She was always texting with her friends and talking about their plans. Of course we spent a lot of time together and talked at all hours of the day, and I knew I was her best friend, but I was the complete opposite of her.
Social interactions made me break out into hives.
Work was one thing. I wasn’t surrounded by dozens of people trying to have conversations all at once.
That was why I’d applied at the bookstore.
I loved reading, yeah, but I knew it wouldn’t be like a nightclub or bar.
I was sure Daisy wanted someone as outgoing as her.
“Kaia? Are you with us?” Drea asked.
I shook my head. “No. Yeah, of course. Sorry. I’ll think about it, okay?”
Drea rolled her eyes. “You always say that, love. Actually think about it this time, okay?”
I nodded and was grateful she didn’t press it anymore.
“On a more serious note. Kaia, when are you going back home?” Drea’s voice turned soft and nurturing.
Ugh. I’d been thinking about that answer for the last few days.
The only thing I came up with was, “I’m not.
I’m going to start looking for an apartment.
I… I can’t go back there. It was hard enough just going to get a few things; I don’t know how I’ll be when I have to return to clean it out.
I don’t want to think about that right now. ”
Blair came over and put a comforting arm on my shoulder. “You don’t have to make any decisions. You know you always have us if you need anything. And you know you have Daisy.”
I smiled softly and turned around to see Daisy looking at us with a concerned expression. “Hey. Are you okay?” she asked.
“Drea asked me when I’m going home. I told her I’m not. I’m going to look for an apartment this weekend.”
I wasn’t sure what I said, but Daisy looked a little confused and almost hurt by my words. I didn’t think she wanted me to stay with her forever. “You know you can stay with me, doodle.”
“It’s okay, I’ve stayed long enough. You need your house back.”
She frowned and adjusted her stance to a more defensive one. “How do you know what I need? I’m telling you I don’t mind.”
I blushed. She was so gorgeous when she got bossy with me, but I had to hide those thoughts away.
Drea and Blair were looking between each other before Drea cleared her throat.
“I think I hear my office phone ringing. Come on, my love. Help me answer it?” Drea took Blair’s hand and disappeared toward her office.
I turned back to Daisy, who was looking at me with her arms crossed like she was annoyed, but the sad expression in her eyes gave her away.
“I appreciate that Daisy, but I can’t. That’s your space.” There was no way I could move in with her. The last week had been torture enough. I could keep my feelings away when I didn’t have to sleep a few feet from her. It was easier when I was in my own bed.
“Kaia, you can. Apartment hunting sucks, and I could use a roommate. I love having you there, and I’d only ask that you pitch in for groceries so you don’t feel like a freeloader.”
I smiled. I would feel that way. This was a terrible idea.
The worst idea in history. “I don’t know.
What if your parents want to come over? Or your other friends?
They wouldn’t have a place to stay. And what happens when you go on a date and want to bring them back?
I don’t want you to have to worry if someone else is there or not. ”
I knew it was an excuse, but it sounded like a good one. Her parents lived only five minutes from her, and her friends never stayed over. They weren’t the types to get drunk and crash on someone’s couch.
“You know that won’t happen. My parents don’t live far enough to warrant an overnight visit. My friends have never stayed over at my house, and if they do, so what? As far as dates, that isn’t even a discussion right now.” She gave me a look that caused mixed emotions.
She knew something was off and I hated that. But at the same time, she looked so damn cute when she was showing authority. “Kaia, what’s really going on? Is there something wrong with my house, or me? You’re there all the time, and you’re my best friend. Why don’t you want to live together?”
I froze. There was no way I could tell her the truth. Then I really wouldn’t have a place to go. I bit my tongue, trapping the truth inside, and decided to go with a different one instead.
“It’s not that. I’m just… I don’t want to impose on your life and routine. I know how you love your routine, and I don’t want it to become an issue between us. I don’t want you to get sick of me. Forced proximity can change people.”
Her sweet smile reminded me of a sunflower. “Doodle, you know that won’t happen. Routines can be changed and adjusted when needed. I think it would be amazing to live with you. I already adore you, and this way, I can have more time with you. I see no cons to this idea. Please say yes!”
There were so many cons, but with her looking at me like that, like she genuinely wanted me to move in, how could I say no?
I kicked myself for agreeing as I nodded. “Okay, fine. It sounds like you’ll be miserable forever if I don’t.” I smiled. It was such a double-edged sword, but it would save me a lot of trouble if I didn’t have to look for an apartment. But was it worth it?
I decided it was when her smile grew and she jumped up and down before giving me the strongest hug in the world. Yeah, totally worth it.