Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
TOBIAS BARRETT
I look across the table and take in Kiki’s expression. She looks sad, and I don’t understand. I thought buying her new clothes would make her happy. Why am I always doing the wrong thing? I pick up my water glass and take a sip. “What are you thinking?”
Kiki’s thoughts seem far away, but she meets my gaze. “About how beautiful this island is.”
I struggle to figure her out. “And that makes you sad?”
“No,” she says quickly. “I’m just tired.” She forces a smile and picks up her menu. “Ooh, they have shrimp and steak.”
“Their lobster is good here, too.”
Kiki scrunches her nose. “I’ve never had lobster.”
“Now’s your chance then.”
She balks. “No way. I wouldn’t know how to eat it, and what if I hate it? It’s like a million dollars. I’ll get the shrimp and steak. I know I’ll like that.” She closes her menu.
I chuckle. She’s cute when she’s flustered. “Okay. What if I order the sampler that has a lobster tail, and you can try some?”
She nods. “Yes. I’ll try some of yours.”
“Then if you love it, you can order the whole lobster next time.”
She looks down at the table. “Sure. Next time.”
A tension that wasn’t there before sneaks in between us, and I stare at her. I got the feeling last night that Kiki’s not planning on staying long when I told her I ordered her a phone. And now it’s back. It makes me want to know more about her. I want to know why she’s on Willow Island. She told me a little bit, but now I want to know the details.
“Unless you hate the food here,” I joke, trying to break up the awkwardness.
She smiles. “I’m sure I won’t.”
I study her. “You mentioned the other day you’re here looking for someone. Can I ask, is it your biological mother?”
Her eyes widen and she motions with both hands. “No. That’s not it.”
“Then, who?”
“No one, really.” Kiki fiddles with her napkin. She’s extremely nervous now, and I don’t understand. “I’m trying to find myself,” she finally says quietly.
This makes more sense. I’ve gotten the feeling that Kiki doesn’t know who she is. But it’s more than that. I get the sense that she doesn’t like who she is, which tears me apart, especially when I can see all the good in her.
“I get that.” I want to reach across the table and take her hand, but I don’t. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want that kind of relationship with me.
The server comes and takes our orders. We sit and look out at the sunset. My phone chimes and I pick it up. Micah texted.
I got into Georgia State!
I grin. “Oh, thank goodness.”
Kiki cocks her head to the side. “What’s that about?”
“Micah got accepted into Georgia State. He was worried. All his friends already got acceptance letters, including Cricket. He thought maybe he applied too late.”
Kiki smiles. “I’m so glad. Tell him I’m happy for him.”
I’m with Kiki and we’re both so happy for you!
He sends me back a series of emojis, and I don’t totally understand what he means, but I get the impression he’s happy.
We sit in silence for a few moments before Kiki clears her throat. “What’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done?”
“That’s a great question. I guess I’ve always wanted to do some traveling.”
“Where would you go?”
“Alaska. The photos make it look so beautiful.”
She shakes her head. “And cold. You’d leave this perfect island for someplace like that?”
I laugh. “It’s spring right now. Just wait until August hits. You’ll want to go to Alaska too.”
“I prefer the heat. The cold just gets into my bones and makes me shiver.” She rubs her arms.
“Got it.” I pick up my glass and motion toward her. “Don’t take Kat to Alaska.” I’m in the middle of taking another drink when I realize what I just implied, and I choke, setting my class quickly down. “I mean, not that we’d ever go on trips together or anything. I didn’t mean to imply…” I stop talking, my face heating to a thousand degrees.
She stares at me for a second, then bursts out laughing. “Change it to the Bahamas and I’m in.”
I smile at her, relieved that she didn’t take it the wrong way. Our food comes. I grab a small fork, and I pry some lobster out of the tail. I dip it in the butter and stretch it toward Kiki. “Try the lobster.”
She opens her mouth, and I feed it to her. There’s something intimate and sexy about it, and it makes me think of our kiss once again.
“Wow, that’s actually really good.”
I grin at her. “I’m glad you like it.”
We eat in silence for a while, but it’s not uncomfortable. I like the way we can just sit together and feel each other’s presence. It’s nice being with her.
“Tomorrow is your day off. What are your plans?” I ask.
“I’m going to Ellie’s to quilt again.”
I slowly nod. “All day?”
She sighs. “Yes. We got a lot done on Wednesday, but there’s still quite a few quilts that need finishing.”
“I see.” Disappointment flows through me, but I try not to let it show. I once again remind myself she’s my employee. We’re just friends. That’s all.
After our meal, we pick up Skyler from Josephine’s house. Skyler runs to me and hugs my legs. “Daddy! We made ice cream, and we watched a dog movie!”
Josephine laughs. “101 Dalmatians. She loved it.”
I crouch down and hug Skyler before she wiggles away from me and goes to Kiki. I stand up and turn to Josephine. “Thanks for watching her.”
She pats my hand. “Did you have a nice time together?”
Kiki smiles. “We did.”
Skyler tells us all about her day as I drive us home. Then we wrangle her into her pajamas and tuck her in bed. I kiss her forehead and turn off the light.
Kiki goes out to the car to get our things we purchased, and I help her bring them in. She takes her clothes upstairs while I get the craft supplies out, putting them on the kitchen counter. Kiki walks in and picks up one of the containers of sand.
“Do you want help putting those together?” I motion to the seashells and ribbon.
“Sure. Thanks.”
I grab a glass cylinder vase and hold it out so Kiki can pour in the sand. We work together, putting in the seashells and the little white tea lights that Kiki picked out. She cuts a length of ribbon and hands it to me. I stare down at it. “Uh, I don’t think I can tie a nice bow like you.”
“Nonsense. It’s easy. Here. I’ll show you.” She moves close to me, taking some ribbon and wrapping it around one of the vases. “Just tie it like this.”
Her fingers fly over it so quickly I can’t see what she’s doing. But when she’s done, she has a perfect bow. I try to duplicate what I saw her do, but my fingers get all tangled in the ribbon, and it doesn’t tie right in the end.
She giggles at me. “No, like this.”
Her fingers slide under mine as she takes hold of the ribbon. I’m too stunned to move, the electric current running between our fingers making my pulse race. I pull back, letting her tie the ribbon again, slower this time. She looks up at me, her face just inches from mine. “Did you get it?”
My brain tries to process what she said, but all I can think about is sliding my hands around her waist and pulling her to me. I mentally slap myself. Hands off. Remember?
“I think so,” I lie. I try once more, and by some miracle, I actually tie a bow. It’s lopsided and funny looking, but it’s a bow.
She smiles at me as she fixes it. “Nice.”
I take a step back from her. “Maybe you should do the rest.”
She laughs but doesn’t argue with me. After all the bows are tied, she turns. “Thank you for your help. And for…” She stops and her gaze travels over my features, landing on my lips. “Everything,” she whispers.
I want to kiss her so badly I can already feel her lips on mine, but I can’t. I don’t want to break her trust. I don’t want to push past that imaginary line she’s drawn, so I back away from her.
“I should go.” I turn and walk out of the kitchen before I do something I’ll regret.