Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
DAISY
Me: Are you about ready to go?
Doodle: Yes! Sorry, I had a wardrobe malfunction. Coming!
Not ten seconds later, Kaia’s door swung open.
“Wow,” I said when she came into view.
She was wearing a black romper with way too much cleavage showing, and I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.
“What? Is it too much? I just wanted to be comfy.” She shrugged.
“That depends. Too much what? Clothing? Who are you looking like that for?”
Pink tinted her cheeks. “You don’t like it? I just wanted to be comfortable, but I can change if you think it’s bad.”
She turned around, and I stopped her with a hand on her wrist, shaking my head.
“That’s not what I meant, Kaia. I think you look…
really good. It’s not bad at all. If you’re comfortable, then I think you should wear it.
I just wasn’t expecting so much skin, that’s all.
” I rubbed my neck, feeling uncomfortable looking at her for so long.
It was a struggle to force my eyes to stay on hers and not trail lower to the dip of her chest into her outfit.
“I’m not showing that much skin. I know it’ll be warm inside the arcade, so I wanted to dress appropriately.” She smiled.
I gave her a knowing look. “Sweetie, there is nothing appropriate about that outfit, but let’s go anyway.” She blushed again, but didn’t argue about it anymore.
I wasn’t sure what had me so possessive over her. She was a grown woman, as evident by the way her chest looked. She could wear whatever she wanted. Who was I to care if she wanted to dress up?
She ended up driving to the arcade, and I allowed myself to stare at her legs only every five to ten minutes.
I was afraid she’d catch me staring, and I didn’t have a good excuse.
I had to sit on my hands so I wasn’t tempted to reach over and feel her soft legs.
Pull it together, Dais. That is your best friend who just lost her father.
She does not need you drooling over her strong yet soft and kissable legs!
Thankfully, we pulled into the parking lot, and I busied myself by texting the group that we were there.
“Ready?” she asked.
I smiled. “Ready. Are you?”
She nodded. “Yup. I’m ready.”
We got out of the car, and I was thankful for the cool air. The air in the car had gotten hot and thick, and I needed to cool off. My friends got out of their cars and ran over to us, all of us exchanging hellos and hugs.
Cora hugged me first. Cora had shoulder-length brown hair that rested in curls. Her eyes were a warm chocolate brown, and she was the oldest out of all of us at thirty-one.
Next was Emma. She was the baby of our group at twenty-two. She had short blonde hair and blue eyes.
Then, fashionably last, was Remy. Remy was a trust-funded, red-headed twenty-six-year-old beauty with green eyes and a heart of gold. She never gave helping out someone in need a second thought, and she loved spoiling her friends.
After a round of “Oh my God, I love your hair. Your outfit is adorable. Kaia, you look smokin’ hot!” I forced everyone inside.
I didn’t disagree with them that she looked good. She showed off her legs and boobs perfectly. But I didn’t appreciate how they were touching all over her, feeling her outfit and making her do a little spin like she was on display.
“Yes, we all agree she looks great. Stop fondling her and let’s go inside, please.”
Remy looked at me with challenge in her eyes. “A little testy today, aren’t we, Dais? Sorry we wanted to appreciate your girl. Our bad. We can go.”
I turned to Kaia, who blushed. “I’m not her girl,” she said before I could say anything.
I didn’t want to be the one to say it. I had no problem correcting them when she wasn’t around, but with her standing in front of me, it felt wrong. She meant so much to me, and in a way, she was my girl, but not in the way they always joked about.
When we got inside, Remy insisted on paying for everything. Kaia tried to protest, of course, but she wouldn’t have it. I smiled and took Kaia’s hand, forcing her to look at me.
“Don’t waste your breath, doodle. She’s stubborn. Just smile and say thank you.”
She frowned but turned back to Remy and thanked her.
“Okay, who’s riding with who?” Cora asked after we got our tickets and huddled together.
I looked around at everyone. “There are five of us, so someone would have to ride alone or wait for someone to be done. I can ride alone if no one else wants to.”
Remy shook her head. “Absolutely not. You and Kaia can ride together, and I’ll ride alone.”
I frowned. “Are you sure? I don’t mind going by myself.”
She nodded. “You can’t leave your best friend alone. Go, I’ll be fine.” She winked and it didn’t go unnoticed, but I didn’t bother bringing it up—at least, not yet.
I had told my friends countless times that Kaia and I were just friends, but for some reason, they refused to believe me. They never said anything if she was with me, but they always made faces and mentioned something if she wasn’t around.
I turned to Kaia, Cora, and Emma. “Is everyone okay with that idea? Kaia and I will ride together, Cora and Emma, and Remy will go alone?”
They all nodded, and we headed to wait in line. Kaia nudged me for my attention once we stepped closer to the front. “I’m sorry you have to be stuck with me. I know how hard you tried to get out of it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh hush. You know I’d rather be stuck with you any day. I just felt bad that we were uneven.”
I loved my friends, I really did, but at the end of the day, it was Kaia who I wanted to come home to. Kaia I wanted to share my thoughts with. The good and the bad. It was Kaia who made me feel stronger than I told myself I was sometimes.
“That was so much fun. We have to come back here,” Kaia said when the kart stopped. We were waiting for our turn to park and safely get out of our kart.
I nodded, but words left my thoughts as she dropped her hands and they lightly grazed mine as I brought them up to respond. I looked down where her hands rested and realized just how close we were sitting.
Our thighs brushed against each other and when she laid her hands on her legs, part of them touched mine. I wasn’t sure if she was aware that her fingers were moving against my skin, so delicately and barely there. My breath caught at the sensation, but I couldn’t move.
I looked up to see her looking down at where our legs and her hand touched. The movements stopped, and she looked at me with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She quickly looked away and the kart moved, as it was our turn. And just like that, the moment was over.
Neither of us said anything about it, and we all rotated driving partners and went one more round.
I drove Remy, and it was a mistake. I realized that the second we stopped the kart. “Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
She furrowed her brows at my lie. After Kaia, I was the closest with Remy out of the three of them. I’d known her the longest, and she could usually read through my bullshit. Kaia could, too, but she was more subtle about it.
“For one, you were white-knuckling the steering wheel the entire ride. And for two, you’re staring holes into the back of Kaia’s head. Did something happen between you two?”
I groaned, shaking my head. “I don’t think so. We were just sitting too close, that’s all.”
“You know I can see the blush in your cheeks, right? Something happened. Did she finger you in line? That’s so hot!”
I gasped, lowering her hands. “Oh my God! Will you shut up! No, we did not… do that. How many times do I have to tell you we are just friends? Besides, I would never do that in public! Everything’s fine. Drop it!”
She put up her hands in surrender and apologized. Luckily, we were instructed to move forward, so there was no more time for talking.
“Okay, I’m done going in circles. Anyone up for a drink?” I asked the group when we all gathered at the end of the go-kart exit.
“That sounds good. The first round is on me,” Kaia answered first.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I’ve got you.” I couldn’t help but mirror her smile.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, I blinked, bringing myself back to the present. What the hell was wrong with me?
“How sweet. Let’s go.” Remy smirked, and I wanted to kick her, but decided against violence. I shook my head, pulling my thoughts together as we walked to the bar.
There were five seats perfectly next to each other at the bar, so we decided to sit there. Remy sat first, followed by Cora and Emma, leaving two empty bar stools for me and Kaia.
Remy ordered the first two rounds of lemon drop shots. She tried to order the next one, but Kaia held her own and refused to let her pay for everything. I was in awe of her and didn’t hide it.
“Wow, someone who doesn’t take your shit? I’m impressed.” Emma said, grinning.
Remy rolled her eyes with a smile. “Me, too, honestly. You win this round, Kaia.”
We all talked and drank until our bodies started feeling warm. I stopped after two shots, so I had plenty of time before we left to sober up. I made sure to order a huge burger as well. I never drank without eating something.
Kaia, however, was really enjoying herself. She was about three shots in, ordering her fourth, and when I asked her if she was going to eat anything, she just shrugged. I ordered a plate of fries and planned to force her to eat some. I didn’t want her throwing up later.
I was glad she was having fun, and I wasn’t about to say anything to her.
She’d been through a lot recently, and if she wanted to have a good time and get drunk with friends, she was in a safe space to do so.
I’d sit back and take care of her when the time came.
She’d been drunk once or twice, so I knew how she got.
She wasn’t going to run around naked or end up in some stranger’s bed.
I froze when she put her hand on my leg, the touch burning into my skin.