Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
KAIA
“Kaia, you know I love you, right? I love you and support your decision to go the grid for the weekend. I support you so much that I’m not dignifying that question with a response.”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on, Fallon, I just asked if you’ve seen her. What’s the big deal?”
She made a sound between a huff and a snort. “You took this trip to spend time away from her, and now you’re asking how she is? No, ma’am, I will not be an accessory.”
“Oh my God, you spend too much time with Dre. Fine, I’ll drop it. But I can’t relax if I’m worried and thinking something happened to her.”
“Jesus, Kaia. Relax, please. I promise Daisy is very much alive and missing you, okay? Feel better? I’m hanging up now. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment in an hour, and Kenzie is demanding my attention beforehand.”
“Yeah! I need help getting ready!” Mackenzie shouted into the phone, and then Fallon squealed.
“Sorry, babe. Wife duties call. I love you. Please keep your mind busy with other things besides what Daisy’s doing. You took this trip for a reason, so remember that. I’ll see you at the party.”
She hung up and I groaned, trying not to think about how Mackenzie needed help. I couldn’t help but feel happy for them while still feeling a little jealous.
I loved that they’d found each other and they were so incredibly happy, even after being married for a few years. Their honeymoon phase seemed never-ending.
But I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t a little envious of their relationship, or even Drea and Blair’s, for that matter.
I wanted that life for myself. Someone to come home to.
Someone to share my days and nights with.
Someone who would want me at all hours of the day no matter what I looked like.
Someone who loved me and looked at me like I personally hung the moon.
It was impossible to find that when I hadn’t even tried, I knew.
Maybe after this trip, I’d try to get back out there.
Start going to Queer Quarters on the weekends or try dating apps again.
If I wanted to find my person, I couldn’t sit at home and wait for them to appear on the couch. I had to go out and find them.
I was determined to forget about Daisy, so I decided to leave my hotel room and explore the city.
Fairview was a few hours outside of Seattle.
Drea knew where I was, but she promised to share the information only in an emergency.
The last thing I needed during my escape weekend was for Daisy to show up because she was worried about me.
I needed this weekend to spend time alone and think about how to move on from my feelings for her and be the best friend she needed while also trying to find my own person.
The town was small and perfect for walking around. It was a little cold, but I could use that as an excuse to browse a new store and get hot chocolate. I wondered if Daisy was drinking—No!
The first store I stopped into was a handmade jewelry store. They had bracelets, rings, pendants, necklaces, you name it. I ended up purchasing a pair of emerald earrings, and I almost bought a sunflower ring until I forced myself to walk away.
It seemed like the universe was against me.
Everywhere I went reminded me of Daisy. Sunflower jewelry.
Hot chocolate. A pet store with a dog that looked just like Duke resting by the door.
I couldn’t turn my head without seeing something that made me think of her.
I even stopped someone walking down the street because, from the back, she looked like her.
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were someone else,” I said when she turned around.
She wasn’t even remotely close to Daisy, and for that, I smiled.
She returned my smile. “Please, mistake me for someone else anytime.” She winked, and my cheeks flushed slightly. “I’m Corrine, and you are?”
She stretched out her hand, and I accepted it. “I’m Kaia. Nice to meet you, Corrine.” My smile was genuine.
“It’s very nice to meet you. Are you from around here? I’ve never seen you before, and I know I’d never forget a face like yours.”
“I’m from Seattle, actually. Just here for the weekend.”
She stepped a little closer. “What a shame. Are you here with someone special?”
Was she flirting with me? Should I flirt back? I’d never been in this situation before. I didn’t know how to handle it. Daisy would’ve—
I cleared thoughts of Daisy and focused on the gorgeous redhead in front of me. This could be my chance to move on from Daisy. “I am all alone this weekend,” I responded with a sultriness in my voice I didn’t know I possessed.
“Well, if you need someone to show you around or keep you company, here’s my number.”
She handed me a card with her name and number on it and let her hand linger as I took it. I didn’t know if I’d be calling her, but it was nice to have the option.
I smiled and walked away without another word, leaving a little bit of mystery as I left. I decided to pick up an early dinner and head back to my hotel. Tomorrow I’d take a little drive to see a neighboring town, explore a little, and see if I could forget about Daisy for a few hours.
I woke up the next morning to a text alert. I groaned, checking the time. The sun had barely risen, so I knew exactly who it was before I unlocked my phone. There was only one person who was up this early on a weekend:
My sunny girl: Good morning, doodle. I know you’re taking a weekend to yourself.
I just couldn’t sleep well last night and I waited until an appropriate time to text you.
I’m sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to check in and make sure you made it okay and you’re still breathing.
Duke and I miss you and hope you have a great time wherever you are.
Are you still in Seattle? Are you still in Washington?
Are you still in the country?! I’m sorry I’m rambling, just kind of freaking out. I’ll leave you alone now! Xoxo
I smiled softly. I loved that she missed me but hated that she was worried. I told myself I had to text her back so she could relax. But first, I had to change her name in my phone. I couldn’t move on if I was calling her “my girl.”
Me: Morning, sunny. I’m alive and breathing. I'm still in America, sadly. I’ve just gone a few hours outside of Seattle, so I’m still in the state. I miss you guys, too. I’ll be home in a few days.
A reply came back almost immediately.
Daisy: Good! I’ll leave you be. Dre said to only text in an emergency, but I had to check in. I won’t talk to you ever again. Until Sunday! I’ll have snickerdoodle’s ready for you when you return. Miss you! Xoxo
I hearted the message and put my phone face down on the nightstand. I didn’t want to be bothered anymore and now I was in a bad mood.
That was exactly why I needed this trip. The whole point was to get away from her and get her out of my head. I wanted to have a few days to myself without contact with her, to figure out my next steps.
I was still looking for a house, but in the meantime, I had to stop being in love with my best friend. I wasn’t sure which was more difficult.
I put the pillow over my face and screamed into it. Why did I respond? Why didn’t I have Drea or Fallon tell her I was okay? Why did I let myself fall in love with her in the first place? If I would’ve shut down those feelings when they started, I wouldn’t have been in this mess to begin with.
I needed to push my feelings aside and start dating. I picked up my phone and the card next to it, dialing the number on it with shaky fingers. I smiled when she picked up after a few rings.
“Hello?”
“Hi,” I said nervously. “This is Kaia. We met yesterday on the sidewalk? You said to give you a call if I needed someone to show me around? Anyway, I was just wondering… is that offer still good?”
The smile in her voice was unmistakable. “Kaia, yes, hello. I’m so glad you decided to call. I was wondering if you were going to. The offer is definitely still good. What do you have in mind?”
I shrugged. I had no clue, but I knew it had to be something that could distract me. “You tell me. I’m just a tourist. I’ll be honest, though. I’ve never done this before. Gone out with someone I met on the street. But I need a fresh start. I need a distraction.”
“Oh, I can absolutely work with that. But to be clear, by distraction, you mean—”
“Sex. Yes. I want… I need… I mean, if that’s okay? Like I said, I have no clue what I’m doing. I’ve got stuff going on at home, and I just need—”
“A distraction. I’ve gathered. I’ll be honest, I was hoping whatever we did would end with that. How about drinks, and then if you’re still interested, we can go back to my place or yours?”
“Maybe just drinks here? I’m staying at the Hilton off Montgomery Street. Room 432. Just to let you know, I carry Mace and a taser wherever I go.”
She laughed. “As you should. That sounds perfect. When are you free?”
I thought about it for a second. “Tonight?”
“I’ll be there around seven. See you tonight, Kaia.”
She ended the call, and I wanted to throw up. Who was I? Trying to have a one-night stand in a hotel? This was so not like me.
Against my better judgment, I called the one person who could give me advice.
“You’re supposed to be off the grid! Why are you calling me? Are you okay? What happened?”
“Drea, calm down. I’m fine. Nothing happened… yet.”
“Don’t say that. It’s not like you’re climbing Mount Everest. You’re in a fancy hotel in Washington.”
I groaned. “It’s not that fancy. Whatever. I need advice.”
“That sounds serious. I’m always here for you, love. What’s going on?”
“Well, you know how you used to have a lot of one-night stands?”
The line was quiet for so long I thought she hung up. “Yes…” She carried out the word, afraid to let it go. “Why?”
“Well… I might have met someone yesterday and invited them to my room tonight for drinks and—”
“Oh. My. God. Kaia Celeste Rhodes, please do not tell me you are going to hook up with a stranger!”