Chapter Sixteen
Friday, November 18
Kiera and Jonathan’s house
Dallas, TX
Kami
“ H appy Friendsgiving, bestie!” I state excitedly, holding up a dish in each hand when Kiera opens one of the large iron doors of her and Jonathan’s house. Stuffing in one dish and brownies in the other.
She is all smiles, wearing a pink sweater and black sweats. “Kami, you’re here! Come on in.”
I walk inside. The elegance and decor of the house is something that never gets old for me. The beautiful, brown-with-white-trim, curved stairs are the focal point of the house along with the large, dark-brown table in the middle of the foyer.
As I admire the house, my mind goes back to the Halloween party. I’m amazed by how much has happened between Ian and me in such a short time.
“Is Ian here yet?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet. He called a bit earlier, though. Said he might be late.”
“Is everything okay?” Late? Why would he be late? Did something happen?
“Oh, yeah, he needed to pick up a few things at the bar. Why? Are you anxious to see him?” She winks.
I roll my eyes, but I know I’ve already been caught. “Just wanted to know.”
Kiera gives me a dubious stare before taking me by the arm and leading me into the kitchen.
When we walk in, I notice Jonathan, Jake, and Nathan sipping their beers and chatting outside while Mia is busy cooking something that smells of brown sugar and cinnamon.
“Mia, that smells so good.”
Because she wanted to finish cooking at a certain time, Mia left for Kiera’s place in the early morning. Who knew she and Kiera could make so much food in just a few hours?
She turns to me with a smile. “Really? Thanks. I got this recipe off the internet, so I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
“Care for some wine, ladies?” Kiera asks.
“Please. White would be great.” I sigh in relief.
I look over the other dishes splayed throughout the kitchen. Each one is either wrapped in foil or in one of those disposable buffet containers.
“Geez, the amount of food here is enough to feed an entire army.”
“We figured since there’s going to be seven of us, we’d need to make at least two batches of everything,” Kiera explains.
“Good call. No doubt we’ll have leftovers.”
“Right?” Kiera laughs.
“Leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving,”
I turn around to see Jake opening the sliding glass door connected to the backyard. He wears light-colored denim jeans and a gray Nirvana T-shirt.
“Because everything tastes better the next day.”
I look to Mia as she watches the sweet potatoes cook. “What can I do to help?”
She tears her gaze away from the food. “We still need to set the table.”
“On it.” I smile as Mia takes her gaze back to the oven. She watches it with such intensity. “I don’t think it’ll grow legs any time soon.”
I hear Kiera giggle and Jake chuckle.
“I know. I just want to make sure it doesn’t get overcooked. There’s a method to my madness, and I’ve noticed this oven cooks a little fast.
“Yeah, you watch that oven, baby doll,” Jake teases.
She sends him a stare so deadly that I’m amazed it doesn’t faze him as he walks away with a smirk to the patio. Clearly, not much has changed with these two since the last time I saw them together.
I hand Mia my stuffing dish and watch her place it in the warming drawer under the oven. I set the brownies beside some lemon bars and carrot cake.
Soon after that, Jonathan and Jake walk back in with the turkey in a large dish. This turkey is huge.
Both men set the turkey on the stove as Nathan closes the sliding door behind him.
“Let’s rest the turkey for a good twenty minutes, and we should be ready to serve,” Jonathan tells us before sniffing the air. “Smells good in here.”
Spotting the desserts on the far side of the kitchen, he reaches out a hand toward the cake.
Kiera quickly walks up beside him, playfully swatting his hand away. “Nice try, but no.”
He pretends to look disappointed. “But, sweetheart, it’s calling my name.”
“Cute. Real cute. You know what’s really calling your name? The shower. We’ll be eating soon, and Ian should be here any minute.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jonathan wraps his arms around her petite waist. Their faces are close together. “Will you join me?”
She blushes. “Sir, are you bribing me with sex to get some dessert before dinner?”
“Is it working?” He smirks.
She giggles as he kisses her forehead, followed by a peck on her lips.
As I watch the couple, I see how they are with each other. They’re so different from what I’ve known. So caring, loving, and full of trust. Could I ever be like that with someone unconditionally? Maybe someone like Ian? My heart aches for that kind of love, but I’ve seen it all go wrong too many times. Like Jenny and her husband, Jonathan and Kiera’s relationship could be more the exception, not the rule.
Kiera lightly pushes Jonathan out of the kitchen and into the direction of their bedroom. Then she goes to grab a box of plastic silverware and napkins.
After grabbing a decorative tablecloth from the linen closet, and place mats, Kiera and I quickly get to assembling the dining table.
“So, are you and Ian…” Though she doesn’t finish the sentence, I know what she’s referring to.
“He and I have been spending more time together.”
“And how is that going?”
“He’s different than what I expected. I like spending time with him. I’m just not sure where we stand.”
Kiera shoots me an incredulous stare. “That’s great, but how do you feel about being around him?”
“Oddly enough, I like it. He’s…easy to talk to.”
“I saw you two in the lobby the other day. The way you look at each other and banter make it seem as if you’re already a couple.”
“A couple?” I scoff. “I’m not sure about that.”
“Love happens whether you want it to or not. Like the dinosaur movie goes, love finds a way. And from the look on your face when I told you he called earlier, I’m guessing you like him as more than a friend.”
I’m pretty sure the movie character said, Life finds a way , but I get her point. “It doesn’t matter whether I like him or not. We’re not actually dating.”
“I know that. I’m just telling you how I see it.”
After setting down the last of the plates in front of each chair, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not one of the heroines in your romance novels, Kiera.”
She laughs. “I know you aren’t. I’m just saying wouldn’t you want to try the real thing? The man wants you, so what’s stopping you?”
So many things, Kiera. So many things…
The doorbell rings.
“Speaking of Ian, that must be him,” Kiera quips, all but skipping to the front door.
I feel like I’m watching everything in slow motion as Kiera opens the heavy door. I’m frozen, waiting with bated breath to see his face.
“Ian. Come on in,” she says a little too loudly, giving me a side glance, before taking her focus back to Ian.
He walks in with a bottle of wine in each hand. “I brought white and red in case anyone had a preference,” he says.
“Perfect.” She smiles. “I’m glad you made it.”
He chuckles. “Like I would miss out on Jake and Jonathan fighting over the wishbone? Not a chance.” The first thing I see is his dirty-blond hair, followed by his broad shoulders and muscular chest covered by a tight black T-shirt.
Oh, god, am I drooling?
I change my face to a neutral expression when his gaze turns in my direction. His eyes, once they land on me, have my body feeling hot all over again. One look, and that’s all it takes for me to realize I’m done for.
The need I felt before he arrived grows stronger. Almost uncontrollable. Once again, I feel naked under his stare. Aching to writhe in the heat of his scent and pleasure. I feel my heart pounding in my ears.
I manage to give him a half smile. “Hey.”
“Hey there.” He walks toward me, and I meet him halfway.
“How are you?” he asks in that deep and sultry tone of his.
“I…I’m good. You?” I have a hard time not getting lost in those eyes.
“Better now that I’m here.” I start to get the feeling he didn’t come today just for the festivities.
I start blushing when a loud ring coming from the kitchen reverberates. I look down at the one bottle of wine still in each of his hands. “I can take one for you. Everyone is in the kitchen if you want to say hi.”
“It’s all good. I got them.”
“I insist.” I take one of the bottles as we walk into the kitchen together.
The scent of food must have hit his senses because his face turns surprised. “Wow, this all smells so amazing.”
After setting the dish of sweet potatoes on a hot pad, Mia turns toward us. “You made it.” She walks over to him, and they exchange a brief hug. “If you’re looking for the rest of the men, one went to take a shower, and the other two are out on the patio keeping an eye on the green bean casserole.”
“How’s the turkey lookin’ this year?”
“See for yourself.” Mia points to the gigantic bird resting on the stove. “For once they managed to not burn it.”
He inspects the turkey. “That’s a relief. What’s the ETA on dinner time?”
“As soon as Jonathan is out of the shower, we’ll start filling plates,” Kiera replies.
“Cool. In that case, I’ll have Jake and Nathan come back inside with that casserole.”
“Good thinking,” Mia says as she takes out large serving spoons, setting them next to each dish.
“What would you like to drink?” I ask him.
“A water for now would be great. Thanks, Kami.” He gives me a glimpse of that charming grin of his before opening the sliding door and closing it behind him. I watch him, Nathan, and Jake greet each other.
I must have been so focused on Ian that I don’t notice Kiera trying to say something or Mia sneaking up behind me.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” Mia whispers in my ear.
I jolt in surprise at her being so close. “What?”
She and Kiera laugh.
“We’re all set?” Jonathan asks, walking into the kitchen with freshly styled hair and clean clothes.
“Yep, the turkey should be ready for carving.” Kiera smiles at her husband-to-be.
We spend the next hour laughing and eating at the dining room table. The food tastes so good, I start cursing at myself for not being able to finish everything on my plate.
“Mia, this is fantastic,” Jonathan compliments as he fills his fork with more sweet potatoes.
“Who made the stuffing? I swear, I’m obsessed with how good it tastes,” Ian compliments my dish.
“I made it. It’s a family recipe.” I beam.
“Could you send me the recipe?” he asks. “My family would love this.”
“Sure, I’ll send it to you later.”
A half hour—and second and third helpings of food—later, Mia and I finish up washing the dishes while Kiera and Jonathan help to put them away.
I hold my stomach as though it were about to burst. “I’m having a major food baby right now.”
“Join the club,” Mia chimes.
“Same. I don’t know how much more food I can eat,” Kiera agrees.
“What a shame.” Jonathan pretends to sound disappointed.
“What’s a shame?” Mia asks, suspicious as to what her older brother could mean.
“I guess you won’t have any room for—”
“Hold up. No one said we didn’t want any dessert,” Kiera says without hesitation.
“I know. Just messing with you.” He laughs, then pecks a kiss to Kiera’s cheek as they continue.
After dessert, the men are watching the last of the basketball game on TV while us three girls are in the bathroom trying on the latest makeup Kiera bought.
I’m applying a pink gloss to my lips, Mia’s typing away on her phone, and Kiera is sitting on the counter beside me when she says something I don’t expect. “You’re falling for him.”
I’m taken aback by her statement at first before deciding to play coy. “If by him you mean this lipstick, then yes. The color is gorgeous.”
“You know who I’m talking about. And we both know playing dumb isn’t your style.”
Through the mirror, I watch Mia look up from her phone to us.
She notices me staring at her a second later and raises her hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just listening.”
I turn my attention back to Kiera. “What makes you think I’m playing dumb?”
“You didn’t answer my question from before.”
I sigh. “Our relationship is built on a lie. We’re friends at best.”
“Okay, if you’re just friends, when was the last time you had sex?”
Shit, how long has it been?
I try to remember the last time I had an orgasm that wasn’t induced by a battery-operated boyfriend. Oh, god, the last time was with Ian—back in September. The night I met him. I’ve been so distracted by Ian’s attention on me that I didn’t even notice my sex life going down to zilch. Even before I saw him again in September, the sex was so spine-meltingly good, no one else seemed capable of meeting my now-high expectations.
I try to hide my panic. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Let me guess, Ian?” Mia challenges.
Help a girl out, don’t leave her to the wolves.
“Please don’t say that’s how long it’s been.” Kiera’s face fills with concern.
When did this become an interrogation? “Why does it matter?”
“It matters because that means you’re more invested in him than you let on.”
“Even if I was, again, there’s nothing I can do about it. You know I’m not the commitment type.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Love is fleeting.” Not just that, but it’s also filled with pain and suffering.
The only person who could convince me otherwise is maybe the very person I’m making myself vulnerable to. The person who, at every turn, has been steadily bringing down my walls. But even then, that’s unlikely.
“Who says that’s the end all, be all?” Kiera questions.
“How can things change when everything between Ian and me is fake?”
“Your ‘relationship’ may be fake, but your feelings for each other aren’t. You know how Jonathan and I started out. But look at us now. Relationships can work if you just open yourself up.”
“If I could try something real with Ian, I’d have to live in a perfect world. I’d have to know first if he can take care of me. I’d have to know if he could potentially leave me high and dry when the going gets tough. I’d need more time to really know if he’s right for me.”
“But if it feels right with Ian, don’t shut him down just because you don’t see it logistically happening.”
“Love isn’t enough to keep a relationship going. My mom is a serial monogamist. Since her divorce from my dad, all she’s ever done is be in and out of love. My mother loves the idea of love too much to think of logistics.”
“Just because your mom struggles with her love life, doesn’t mean it has to ruin yours,” Kiera tells me.
The damage has already been done. “I refuse to end up like that, a constant revolving door.”
Kiera’s face morphs into concern. “So you’re not going to pursue a relationship with Ian, who has been nothing but genuine to you, because you’re too afraid of ending up like your mom?”
“I tried finding love once, and in the end, it bit me in the ass. I’m happy the way I am. Why fuck that up?”
A long silence grows among all three of us.
Kiera shakes her head. “Because you’ll end up alone.”