Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
KAIA
The store was nonstop all day, and I was glad it was coming to an end.
I had tried and failed yet again to convince Drea to get rid of that defiled chair in the back.
When I’d texted her about it the other day, she’d threatened to drill it into the floor of Daisy’s house so I had to always look at it if I asked her again.
Apparently a part of me liked that idea, and I had bothered her after lunch about it.
She kicked me out of the office, and I did some light cleaning before I went to find Daisy to bother her for a little while.
She was having a bad workday, so I brought her some hot chocolate from Rylee and added a little extra cinnamon since it was her favorite.
She could tell and gave me a bright smile.
I’d make it from scratch if it got her to smile at me like that.
After I left Daisy to finish cleaning, I had a pretty busy shift. One of my employees had to go home, so I helped out at the counter and didn’t stop until about two hours before closing.
We closed down pretty easily, and I was headed out the door, happy to be going home to relax. I hoped Daisy was up for a game night. I just wanted to destress and kick her ass at something. It hadn’t happened yet, but I had faith my time was coming.
When I got home, Daisy already had dinner ready on the table for us.
“Sunny, you don’t have to keep cooking for me. You’re making me look bad here! I’m a guest in your home. I should be doing things for you.”
She frowned and motioned for me to sit down. I obeyed and waited for her to join me. “First of all, missy, you are not a guest. This is your home now just as much as it is mine. Second, nothing could make you look bad.” She winked, and I tried to hide my blush by rolling my eyes with a smile.
“Third, this is my love language. I love doing things for other people, you know that. And you do plenty for me. You take care of me when I’m sick.
You walk Duke in the mornings for me and make sure he has food and water.
You bought him a bed for every room in the house, and I know you spoil him with treats when I’m not looking. ”
I looked over to Duke, whose ears were perked up, wondering if we were talking about him. I smiled and turned back to Daisy, feigning ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She rolled her eyes. “You do a lot for me, Kaia, and this is just one way I show my gratitude. You’re my best friend and I love you. Let me love you by fattening you up!”
I laughed. “How could I deny you the chance to make me fat? You don’t have to do any of this. Feeding me, letting me stay here, giving me the childhood I never had. I don’t know how to ever repay you for everything, Daisy.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. You deserve it. Now eat your food.”
I did as I was told and made little sounds of appreciation as I tried not to scarf down my food. It was delicious, and my eyes rolled back with sheer pleasure.
Daisy was watching me and I froze, wondering if I had something on my face. “Am I making a mess? What’s wrong?” I asked after too many long seconds of her eyes never leaving me.
She blushed and shook her head. “No. Nothing’s wrong. I was just… watching. Sorry.” She took a bite of her food, dismissing whatever tension had just appeared. “So, what’s new at the store? How’s your office coming along?”
It looked like we were moving on from whatever that was. I wasn’t going to ask anything more, so I smiled and welcomed the change of subject. “Renovations are really coming together. I think they will be done in a few months.”
“That’s amazing. I know you’ll be happy once they’re done. What are you going to do with your office? Do you have any color schemes picked out yet?”
I shrugged. I’d thought about it a little, but things were just so chaotic right now, with losing my dad and now adjusting to living with Daisy. Colors and furniture had slid to the back of my mind.
“I’m not sure yet. I think I want neutral colors. Peach, maybe, or sage green. I don’t want to do too much, but I know I want a couch in there like Drea’s office.”
“I think that would look so pretty.” She smiled.
“I thought so, but we’ll see. So, after dinner, do you want to pick out a board game or something? I think tonight will be my night. I can feel it.”
She put down her fork and took her bottom lip between her teeth. “Oh, I’m sorry, doodle, I can’t. I have plans. I’ll probably be home a little late tonight.”
Interesting. She hadn’t mentioned these plans before now. Were they plans she made today? “Oh? Got a hot date?”
I was joking, wiggling my eyebrows and smirking playfully, but her serious expression made me think it wasn’t so funny, and my smile fell instantly. “Oh. You do have a date.”
What the hell was I supposed to do with that information? I knew she’d dated before; we’d talked about them. Why did everything feel so much more real and terrifying now?
“Yeah. I met her on my walk the other day. That day you had to work early? After your yoga session? Her name is Bethany.”
Right. The day she invited me on a walk. The one day I couldn’t go, and she picked up a woman? The universe was so cruel.
“Oh. Okay, well, have fun and be safe.” I smiled through the pain.
“Always. Oh, and you should go out, too. It’d be good for you, and I know you want to meet someone.
Maybe go to Queer Quarters? Rylee might be working tonight.
You could always ask Kenzie. I bet she’d give you a free drink.
” She shrugged, and I didn’t respond as she took her dishes to the kitchen and headed to her room.
To get ready for her hot date, I imagined.
I did like Queer Quarters, and Rylee, but I wasn’t in the mood to socialize.
Daisy left for her date wearing the most adorable green dress and black tights.
I hoped she had a good time, but not so good that she didn’t come back home tonight.
I knew she’d want to talk about it, so I tried to prepare myself as best as I could.
I was on my laptop, scrolling through houses for rent, when Daisy texted that she was on her way home. It had only been two hours since she’d left, so I hoped the date hadn’t gone well.
That was crummy of me to think, but I did. I hated seeing her upset, and I knew how much she wanted to find her happily ever after just as much as I did, but the selfish part of my brain didn’t want her to find it with anyone but me.
But of course, I’d never tell her that, so I just sat and put on a fake smile and listened as she talked about her dates.
The last one lasted a few months, and she was so broken up when it ended, but they had relocated for work, and they ended things amicably.
Aside from my tortuous feelings for Daisy, I actually liked living together. We got to hang out a lot more, and especially since I’d told her the story of my mom, I felt like we’d grown even closer. But I knew I couldn’t stay with her forever.
Eventually, one of these first dates would actually stick, and she’d want to move them in or move in with them.
They’d get married, start a family, and live this happy life together, and I couldn’t handle being so close to all of that.
It was the smart thing to do, to start looking for a place to live. I made enough from the store, and with my savings from selling my dads house, I could find a small home to rent. I didn’t need much right now, and it was cheaper than apartments in the long run.
I jumped when I heard the front door open. I had been so consumed by my thoughts and the house had been so quiet that it startled me.
Daisy came in with a frown on her face, and all thoughts of being happy faded away. At the end of the day, no matter what I wanted, Daisy was my best friend, and I hated anything that made her face look like that, defeated and sad.
“I take it the date didn’t go well?” I asked when she came to sit next to me.
She covered her face and shook her head.
I grabbed her hands and pulled them away, waiting until she looked at me before speaking. I wanted her to look at me, to know she could tell me anything without judgment or worry.
“Want to talk about it or drown your sorrows in ice cream? I think we have cookies and cream, but don’t tell Mackenzie. Remind me to never read whatever book turned her off to it.”
That made her smile, and I wanted to pat myself on the back. “Ice cream first.”
I nodded and got up to get the ice cream and two spoons. No use wasting a bowl when there wouldn’t be any ice cream left.
I sat back down and handed her the opened pint and a spoon. She smiled and signed. “Thank you,” before taking a big spoonful.
After half the container was gone, I tried again. “Want to talk about it?”
She made a disgusted face, but put the spoon down and sat up.
“When I met her, she was so nice and flirty. She knew I was deaf, obviously, and seemed perfectly okay with it. She knew basic sign language, and we exchanged numbers so it was easier to communicate. Sometimes being deaf can be a great pickup line.” She gave a sad smile, but it quickly fell away.
“So what happened?” I asked, not wanting to hear it but also wanting to be there for her.
“Well, to start, she was almost an hour late, claiming time slipped away from her. I was understanding. It happens.”
Of course she was. Daisy was one of the most understanding people I knew. She had never-ending patience, and you had to really mess up if she was upset with you.
I nodded, waiting for her to continue. “It started off okay. Typical first date—ask questions, get to know them. Then she ordered two Long Island iced teas. For herself. You know I’m not a big drinker to begin with, and I try not to judge, but that’s a lot, right?”
“Definitely seems like a lot, especially on a first date. I mean, only one of those and I’d forget who I was or how to walk upright.”