Chapter Nine #2
“Don't you want to join me?” Kai went a little bit higher.
“I’m here,” I replied. When I’d been spinning around and holding them, I felt something. Maybe not a forever something, but I definitely wanted a moment with Kai.
I joined Kai carefully. Some branches wouldn’t bear my weight like they would theirs. Finding a good one, I sat down. Kai scrambled to me, leaning against me, balancing precariously on the branch.
Grabbing one of the branches to brace us, I put my other arm around Kai.
“I can appreciate an alpha who’s not afraid to climb trees,” Kai said.
“I like to climb trees,” I replied.
“My ex would get irritated because I’d climb trees and fences and walk on walls like a balance beam. I’m fine. I’m not going to hurt myself. I think it was more propriety than anything. But why even have a wall if you’re not supposed to walk on top of it?” Kai asked quizzically.
“Other than safety, I don’t see a reason,” I replied, pretty comfortable. It was a very nice climbing tree, and I could completely understand why Kai wanted to scale it.
“Have you ever seen a banyan tree? They’re these amazing giant trees that have so many twists and layers that make them perfect for climbing. They're all over campus. They’re not only fun to climb, but they’re beautiful,” Kai added.
“No, I haven’t, but that sounds wonderful. I think my favorite trees are redwoods,” I replied. “There’s something quietly majestic about them.”
“There is. Back when my parents were still alive, we would go on road trips to see them.” A bit of wistfulness filled Kai’s voice.
“Do you miss them?” I asked, curious. If Steven’s parents died, I’m not sure he would. Feel a little sad? Maybe? Miss? I wasn’t so sure. But then those assholes didn't even congratulate him on us making the playoffs.
I’d miss my parents if they passed.
“Yeah. The aunties and uncles try really hard to be a family for me and they are, but they don’t replace my parents. They were good parents. Supportive parents. Sometimes Auntie needed to talk to them a little, but they learned pretty quick.” Kai chuckled.
“Like when you chose your name, you said your auntie took you,” I recalled.
“For that it was more like I just needed to learn to effectively communicate that I wasn’t rejecting the names they carefully chose when I was born.
I just wanted to add a new one to it. After that, my mom understood and went out to buy a little nameplate for my door that had my new name on it.
It wasn’t pink and girly like the others.
It was blue with sharks and ocean waves. ”
“I like the ocean, too. Here let me show you some pictures.” Making sure that I wasn’t going to tumble out of the tree, I got my phone. I showed Kai pictures of my cabin, of the home I grew up at, the ocean, and the forest where I spend the off-season.
“You live there? It looks amazing,” Kai breathed in awe.
“Nashville is a great city. It’s been very good to us, but I appreciate having that time in the off-season to be in nature,” I replied.
“Oh, I get it. I love Los Angeles, but moving to Hawai'i has been incredible. I mean, my college has a farm.” Kai got out their phone and started showing me pictures of the campus farm, the greenhouses, and the gardens.
“Your garden from last year is amazing, I would’ve loved something like that,” I said.
“We had to submit our landscaping plans for that. It was a really great experience.” Kai snuggled into me.
I heard an oof as Steven hoisted himself into the tree, not as graceful as Kai.
“You look like you’re having too much fun up here,” Steven teased.
“Just looking at pictures of your house that you spend your summers in–it’s beautiful,” she said.
“It's all him. The lumberjack made a proper cabin for us.” Steven laughed as he got higher.
“You mean lumbersnack,” Kai laughed.
Lumbersnack? My eyebrows rose, followed by my heart fluttering. Did Kai just say I was cute?
“Oh, Ash is a total lumbersnack, also you two with your matching hair buns are cute.” Steven hung upside down from a branch. “I can also see your other buns and they’re cute, too.”
I held in a breath, not knowing if Kai would be offended by Steven complementing their ass.
Kai looked over at him. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s given me a compliment. Thank you, Steven.”
Both of us froze and I could smell the change in his scent. Nobody had given her a compliment in a while? What the fuck?
It was a good thing she wasn’t with her ex anymore. He sounded horrible.
Kai snapped photos of us. “Two little hockeys sitting in a tree…”
Steven pulled himself up into a sitting position, then bent over to give me a kiss.
“Tree selfie.” Kai snapped a picture, leaning against me still, and immediately posted it with the caption, Climbing trees.
“You aren’t supposed to be up there,” a staff member yelled from down on the ground.
“Whoops! Sorry.” Kai started shimmying down.
“Oops.” Steven slung himself onto a lower branch, then dropped down to the ground and grabbed his water bottle.
I climbed down as well.
“Apologies. We didn’t see a sign,” I told the staff member as we grabbed our things. “It’s a really nice tree.”
“Yes, it is, but we don’t need all the kids climbing it,” the staff member said.
We finally went to leave, which of course was through the gift shop. I went right for the exit but noticed Kai wandering around. So, I simply followed Kai as they browsed. The shop had books, magnets, wind chimes, and all manner of things.
Kai picked up a package of note cards made with the leaf prints and a bookmark of pressed flowers.
Steven was busy arranging the magnetic letters into phrases that probably weren’t fit for a family-friendly place.
Kai was looking at some necklaces in a case. I checked my phone to see if there were any team updates.
“You are going to buy your omega that, right?” an elderly gentleman said.
I realized that an elderly woman and Kai were talking, as somebody got necklaces out of the display case for them.
“Do you think I should?” I hadn’t actually thought about buying a souvenir, but that would make sense.
“Why wouldn’t you?” the gentleman said. “Even if things are tight… just watch. Sometimes it’s worth it. And I think this is one of them.”
Kai’s eyes lit up as they held the necklace and looked in the mirror. It was a dragonfly.
It was the joy that got me.
I came over to Kai. “Dragonflies are your favorite insect, right?”
“Yes. It’s just so pretty.” Kai held it up to the light. It looked like it was made of glass.
“It is.”
“It’s a little much, I’ll wait. Thank you,” Kai told the shop person.
“We’ll get it,” I said, getting out my wallet. “You look excited and it’s a little memento of your visit here with us. So you’ll remember it.”
“It’s not very often that I get to climb trees with hockey players,” Kai confessed.
“I want you to have it. Please?” I was afraid that Kai would turn it down. After all, we were strangers. I was grateful enough that Kai trusted us to actually get in a car and go off for the day with us.
“Thank you,” Kai finally said.
I paid for the necklace.
“Do you want to wear it or do you want it in a bag?” the clerk asked.
“I’d like to wear it. Will you put it on me?” Kai turned and looked up at me with those big hazel eyes.
How could I say no to that?
“Of course.”
“Here let me cut the tags off.” The clerk removed the tags and handed the necklace to me.
Kai turned, and I put the necklace around their neck. As I got close so that I could maneuver the tiny clasp, I got another whiff of Kai’s lemon scent, along with a hint of coconut, which was probably shampoo or lotion.
Being so close to Kai made me feel something, something I hadn’t felt in a long time from anyone but Steven.
Kai turned around, but I didn’t step back. For a moment we were very close.
Too close.
“Do you hug?” Kai asked.
I nodded.
“Thank you.” Kai hugged me tightly.
I relaxed, holding them close.
“It’s my pleasure. I’m having so much fun.” The urge to kiss the top of their head was strong, but Kai wasn’t ours. They were just here for a good time.
But if they wanted to have a good time with us, I think I’d be all right with that. It might be a good way to get back into things.
“That looks comfy.” Steven barreled over to us and wrapped his arms around Kai and I, sandwiching poor Kai between us.
Kai let out a little squeak but didn’t wiggle.
“Oh, I like that sound.” Steven squished Kai between us again.
Kai made another squeak.
“Yeah, I definitely like that sound.” Steven was still hugging us.
I liked that squeak too, though if Kai didn’t let go of me, we’d have a problem, because my dick liked this too.
I let go first.
Steven released Kai, but for a moment things were almost electric. I could smell the three of our scents combining.
“I should pay for my note cards and bookmark,” Kai finally said. They went and bought the souvenirs.
“So, did you want to get some pizza and play some air hockey?” I asked. I’d rather go early. It got quite lively as the night went on.
Kai smiled and took my arm. “Absolutely. You had me at pizza.”