20. Kai
Kai
“Hello? Miss me already?” I joke as I pick up Kendall’s phone call. We’ve been texting back and forth all morning, so I’m surprised to see her calling me.
“Kai? Where are you?” She sounds worried.
“About to leave practice, is everything—"
She cuts me off. “Can you come to the hospital? It’s Akio. He had an allergic reaction and his throat started closing up,” she explains frantically.
“Kendall, where are you guys? I’ll leave right now.”
“Rayfield Memorial. We’re in the ED at the children’s hospital.” Fuck, I know Rayfield Memorial. I’ve been there a few times for injuries I got during games. It’s almost a half hour away.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, Ken,” I choke out as I sprint to my car.
“Okay, thanks.”
It’s an enormous feat trying to keep it together on my way to the hospital.
My hands are covered in sweat, my heart thundering against my ribcage, and my brain keeps coming up with increasingly worse scenarios the closer I get to my destination.
I stop at a four-way intersection three miles away from the hospital, and nearly clip another car, my mind somewhere far away.
I pull over and park my car at the next gas station I see, realizing it’s dangerous to drive like this.
Which is ironic seeing as how I’ve driven in far worse conditions without any concern for the outcome.
My grip on the steering wheel tightens like a vise and I force myself to take three deep breaths, in and out, in and out, in and out. Nothing is going to happen to Akio. Everything is going to be fine. I just got them back.
The universe wouldn’t be that cruel, would it?
***
The waiting area for the ED is pure chaos and stimulation overload.
Kids sneezing and coughing, a toddler with vomit on his shirt.
A teen or tween with what appears to be a broken wrist. Multiple other children with various illnesses waiting to be assessed.
I approach the front desk and try to plaster on my most charming smile.
“Hi, I’m here to see—"
“Child’s name please and date of birth” the receptionist demands in a no-nonsense tone.
“Akio Matsumoto, January 13, 2017.”
“And are you related to the patient?” she asks briskly.
“Yes, I’m his father,” I respond, simmering with fear and agitation.
“Can I see your ID please?”
“Sure,” I open my wallet and hand her my driver's license. She reviews it carefully then gives it back to me.
“He’s in room 203. It’s straight back, fourth door on your left—you can stand by the doors over there and I’ll buzz you in in a moment,”
“Thanks.”
After she buzzes me in, I follow her instructions and find the correct hospital room.
Kendall is curled up on the hospital bed with Akio and he seems okay, not in any immediate distress.
She looks drained though. Instinctually, I wrap my arms around her and lightly kiss the top of her head.
I give Akio a small wave and he smiles back at me with a sleepy grin from underneath Kendall’s shoulder.
“Hi,” I whisper. “How is he? How are you doing?”
“He’s better now. We took an ambulance here, which was pretty scary and I think a little traumatizing for both of us.
He’s eaten strawberries before. I don’t know what happened.
But he had a few bites of one and I went to get something from the fridge and when I turned around his lips were swollen and he looked like he was having trouble breathing so I called 911.
They stayed on the phone with me until they got to the apartment,” she explains, tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Kendall—"
And just as I’m about to complete my thought, there’s a brisk knock on the door followed by a stubby, balding man who appears to be in his early sixties. Without looking up from his notes, he announces, “I’m Doctor Larson, I’ll be in charge of Kio’s care and discharge planning today.”
“His name is Akio,” I state, emphasizing the vowel sound. Doctor Larson mispronouncing Akio’s name was his first mistake.
“My apologies. You must be Akio’s parents,” he responds without a single hint of remorse, shaking both of our hands.
My eyes quickly flick to my son, hoping he didn’t hear the doctor declare me as his parent, but he is too wrapped up in his iPad to notice anything else.
Kendall answers for us. “I’m his mother, Kendall.
I just want to make sure he is going to be okay.
He seems better now, still a little shaken up though. ”
“Your son is going to be just fine. The swelling has come down significantly. He appears to be acting normal. All of his vitals look good and stable. He can probably go home in a few hours.”
“But he’s eaten strawberries before, and he’s never had a reaction. Is that typical?” she asks, lowering her voice and stepping around to the front of the hospital bed.
“Sometimes allergies come on seemingly out of nowhere. It’s possible he has been allergic to strawberries in the past, but the reaction just might not have been as severe or even detectable.
We are going to send you home with an EpiPen that can be used if something like this happens again.
Additionally, it might be a good idea to let your family members, pediatrician, and any daycare providers know so they are aware of his allergies and how to treat his symptoms. I promise a good night’s sleep and some extra snuggle time and he will be just fine. ”
“Okay, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Is there any way he could be discharged sooner rather than later? I have to work tomorrow.”
“Unfortunately, we are short-staffed tonight and have a few traumas in the ER. But we will try to get you home as soon as we possibly can,” he offers while listening to Akio’s lungs with a stethoscope. Making Kendall and I feel like Akio was not high on his priority list was his second mistake.
“If there’s nothing else…” he states, standing next to the hospital bed. I curl my knuckles into my palms to keep from grabbing him by his shirt.
“Actually, there is. I have it on good authority that the Boston Bucks make a generous yearly donation to this hospital. I also know a few of the acting board members personally. If you want that money to keep flowing and retain your job, I would suggest you get us discharged immediately,” I snarl.
Kendall scowls at me and I can’t tell if she’s angry or embarrassed.
“I don’t take kindly to threats, Mr…” his voice trails off, and I know he’s staring at me trying to place me, wondering why my racially ambiguous face seems so familiar.
“Matsumoto. Kai Matsumoto,” I finish. He stands up a little straighter and deposits his pen in his jacket pocket and stethoscope around his neck.
“Ah yes, Mr. Matsumoto. Again, I will try to hurry things along, but I really don’t have the power or ability to make this entire department more efficient.
After all, this is a public hospital and patients will be treated and discharged based on the severity of their injuries and illnesses, and level of acuity. I suggest you all get comfortable.”
As soon as he exits the room, Kendall pulls me into the bathroom by my arm. The harsh fluorescent lights flicker on and reveal a small toilet and sink.
“What the hell was that stunt?” she demands, eyebrows furrowed and her cheeks flushed. I forgot how cute she is when she’s angry. For a second, I imagine what it would be like to kiss her with her back pressed against the door of this bathroom.
“Nothing, he was just pissing me off. I thought maybe some name recognition might get us out of here faster,” I shrug trying to get rid of all the fantasies this forced proximity was planting in my head.
“He was actually pretty nice as far as pediatric doctors go. He’s just doing his job.”
“I know I was an asshole. I just feel like Akio deserves better and I didn’t like that he said his name wrong. You know it happened to me all the time as a kid. I hate that shit.”
“I know you do,” she tuts.
“Wait, back up, what do you mean as far as pediatric doctors go? Has he been to the hospital a lot?” I ask, my head starting to spin, wondering what else I’ve missed in the past two years.
A panicked look spreads over her face as she chews on her bottom lip.
“I used to date a pediatric doctor that worked here. He didn’t treat me very well to put it bluntly,” she confesses.
“What do you mean he didn’t treat you well?” I press, taking a step closer to her.
“Ugh, it was so long ago. I don’t even want to think about it.
He was just arrogant and belittling. He made sure I knew my place, which he considered to be far below him.
Seeing as how I was just a paralegal, a single mom, and could barely afford my rent.
And he was a hotshot doctor making well above six figures. ”
I slowly tilt her chin up towards my face, wanting her to hear every word I’m about to say. Her hazel eyes soften and focus on me; they’re a lighter shade of green today with shimmering flecks of gold.
“Kendall, any guy who makes you feel like you are less than the fucking beautiful, intelligent, extraordinary gift that you are does not deserve your time, okay? And any guy that doesn’t worship the fucking ground you walk on is a moron.
” She starts blushing, her tan cheeks turning a deep scarlet and I know I’ve made my point.
“It’s fine, Kai, it was a long time ago. It’s ancient history.”
“No, Kendall, it's not fine.”
“Yes, Kai, it is. I’ve gotten over it and so should you. Besides, it was never going to work with him anyways,” she admits, inching closer to me, her arms brushing against my chest, her face so close I can feel her breath on my lips.
“Why?” I ask, my breath quickening.
“You know why.”
“I’d like to hear you say it, Kendall,” I respond, doubling down.
“Because I don’t know how to not love you either.”
“I know we are taking things slow but I’m having a very hard time restraining myself from kissing you in this hospital bathroom,” I admit, allowing my knuckles to graze her cheek and cupping her face in my hand.
Kendall had always been just out of my reach, out of my league, untouchable.
Until she wasn’t. Until I realized the attraction went both ways.
Now here I am, feeling very much like my seventeen year old self, chasing after my first crush, like I still have something to prove.
Begging her with everything I have to give me a chance, to stay, to cross that line with me again.
The only difference is that now, we have more to lose.
Did she still taste like sweet sin? Would she still come undone when I flick my tongue against her pulse point? These are suddenly the only questions I need answers to.
“So, stop restraining—" I cut off her words with a kiss that’s aggressive, feral, and completely unrestrained. I tilt her head back, needing more of her, and slip my tongue in her mouth greedily. She opens for me without hesitation, letting me explore her. It’s enough to elicit a whimper from the back of her throat.
Fuck, I’m in trouble. This is trouble. Her tongue slides against mine and this kiss feels like mistakes and promises, home and heartache.
I grip her neck with one hand as my other hand snakes around her waist, pressing her chest flush to mine.
Her fingers rake my hair while my hands start roaming the curves of her body, just as a moan escapes her lips.
“Mm, Kai,” she murmurs, pulling away gently.
“Not done with you yet,” I growl. I want nothing more than to reacquaint myself with the burning temptation of her body.
I need to know what she likes now and exactly how she likes it.
I want to relearn every whimper, every moan, every gasp and know I’m responsible for it, that I’ve earned it.
I trace her jaw with my nose and proceed to kiss my way from her cheek all the way down to her collarbone.
She shivers beneath my touch when my mouth lingers underneath her ear and melts back into me. That’s a resounding yes.
“God, I missed you, miss the way you taste,” I whisper against her skin. No woman has ever tasted as good as she does. Like summer and sunshine.
“Kai,” she pleads while simultaneously placing her hand on my chest to stop me.
I sigh in exasperation, knowing this fantasy turned reality is about to be cut short.
“Yes, Kendall?”
“As much as I missed you and this, I really don’t think we should do anything further in this hospital bathroom with Akio right behind the door.
” Her words tell one story while her eyes tell another.
She wants this just as badly as I do. She presses her forehead to mine and gives me a light chaste kiss on the lips.
“To be continued at a more appropriate time and location?” she rasps.
“To be continued.” I repeat her words and place a kiss on her forehead, because at this point, I would do anything this woman asks.