35 | ☕As Anya Heals, Kaia Reveals ☕ #2
Then, without missing a beat, she turned toward Anya, her eyes softening as she approached. "Hey, Anya," she greeted, her voice a gentle contrast to her earlier, more forceful energy. "I brought food. Hope you're hungry."
"Kaia?" Anya's voice was small, disbelief laced through it.
Kaia set everything down with a dramatic thud, immediately beginning to unpack.
"You didn't think I'd just sit back and let you wallow, did you?"
she said, giving Anya a look that was equal parts fond and exasperated.
"I figured you weren't taking care of yourself properly, so I brought some essentials."
She began listing them off as she pulled them from the bags.
"Fresh fruit. Good coffee. Actual food, because I know for a fact Atlas has been living off takeout, and you're probably too polite to complain about it."
Anya let out a soft, breathy laugh, but Kaia wasn't finished.
She pulled out the bouquet next, setting the tulips in front of Anya. "Flowers, because you deserve something beautiful." And finally, she lifted the plush rabbit, setting it gently in her lap. "And something soft, because I figured you could use a little comfort."
Anya stared down at the stuffed animal, her fingers brushing over the plush fur. Her throat tightened as emotions swelled inside her, too many to name. She blinked rapidly, trying to will away the burning in her eyes, but it was no use.
"You didn't have to do all this," she whispered, her voice unsteady.
Kaia scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Of course I did. That's what best friends do."
Atlas, who had been silently observing the exchange, felt something in his chest loosen at the sight of the small but genuine smile on Anya's lips. He could tell she needed this—needed Kaia's energy, her unwavering presence, the reminder that she wasn't alone.
He stepped back, signing, "I'll give you two some space."
Before he could turn away completely, Anya reached out, her fingers brushing against his hand, squeezing lightly. A silent thank you. A quiet plea for him to stay close, even if just in the background.
Atlas met her gaze, giving a small nod before slipping away into his office, leaving them to catch up in peace.
The kitchen filled with the sound of a sharp knife cutting through the fresh fruit, the rhythmic chopping almost meditative.
Kaia worked with quick, practiced movements, cutting slices of apples, pears, and strawberries, arranging them neatly on a plate.
The sweet, fresh scent of the fruit seemed to fill the space, pushing back the heaviness that hung in the room.
Anya's eyes followed Kaia's every move, but she said nothing, her hands still clutching the stuffed rabbit Kaia had given her. The plush toy looked comically small in her grasp, but it seemed to offer her a kind of comfort. Kaia glanced up, catching Anya's distant gaze.
"You're going to eat something, right?" Kaia asked softly, her voice not pressing but insistent, like she knew Anya needed it but wouldn't force her.
Anya hesitated for a long moment, her fingers twitching around the rabbit's ears. The silence felt too loud, too heavy, and Kaia could see how difficult it was for Anya to even consider eating, let alone trying to feel normal again.
Finally, Anya nodded. "Yeah. I—I'll eat."
Kaia set the plate of fruit down in front of her, her movements slow but deliberate. "Good," she said, her voice gentle, but there was an unspoken strength in it—like she was holding space for Anya to breathe, to take it all in at her own pace.
She took a seat across from Anya, folding her arms casually as she leaned back, watching her friend.
She'd been updated on what had happened—Atlas had made sure she knew every detail, and the heartbreak that laced his voice when he told her made it clear just how badly Anya had been affected.
Kaia wasn't sure how much Anya had been told about Atlas's reaction, but she could see it now, in the way he'd carefully sheltered her, the way he never pushed her, the way he understood even when she didn't know how to ask for help.
Anya looked down at the fruit, running her fingers over the smooth skin of a pear. "Did... did Atlas tell you everything?"
Kaia's expression softened, her smile warm but filled with understanding. She didn't rush to answer, giving Anya the time to process, to feel like she wasn't being interrogated.
"He told me what happened," Kaia said quietly, her eyes never leaving Anya's. "But you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." She paused, watching as Anya took a slow bite from the pear. "I just want you to know I'm here. Whatever you need."
Anya chewed slowly, as if the simple act of eating was more difficult than it should have been. She swallowed, looking up at Kaia with a small, almost uncertain smile.
"Thank you," Anya whispered, her voice hoarse. "I—didn't know I needed this until now."
Kaia's heart clenched in her chest. She hated seeing Anya like this, so fragile, so far from the woman who had always been bright and full of energy. But she wasn't going to press her to be someone she wasn't ready to be yet.
Instead, Kaia reached for the fruit herself, popping a strawberry into her mouth. "You're welcome. And when you're ready, we'll talk more. But for now, we can just eat fruit and pretend everything's okay."
Anya smiled more genuinely this time, and it was small, but it was real. She took another bite of the pear, her shoulders loosening just slightly.
"So," Kaia began, her voice casual but tinged with excitement, "I have to tell you something. Something wild that happened the other day."
Anya looked up, curious despite herself. She hadn't expected to be pulled into a conversation so easily, but Kaia had a way of drawing her in without demanding too much.
Kaia leaned forward, her eyes bright, mischief twinkling in them. "You know the guy I met in Italy? The one I told you about? The one who was a little too charming and mysterious for my taste?"
Anya nodded slowly, remembering the way Kaia had described him. Tall, dark hair, and that certain magnetic charm. Kaia had been hesitant, wary of getting caught up in anything that could end badly.
"Well," Kaia continued, her grin widening, "he showed up in my café the other day. Like, out of nowhere. And he looked—" Kaia paused dramatically, shaking her head, "he looked like he'd been through hell."
"What? He just—showed up? After all that time?"
Kaia nodded, her fingers tapping lightly on the edge of her cup.
"Yeah. Apparently, he was in town on some business and just... ended up at my café, out of all places. I swear, it's like he had a sixth sense or something. He walked in, and my heart nearly stopped."
Kaia's expression softened, a little embarrassed by the admission but still amused by the absurdity of it.
Anya couldn't help but smile, imagining the look on Kaia's face when she saw him again. "I'm guessing you didn't throw him out?"
Kaia laughed, a genuine sound that was a little louder than usual. "Of course not! I mean, I didn't throw him out, but I definitely wasn't sure what to say. It was... awkward. He sat down like nothing had happened, and we just... talked. For hours. Like we hadn't spent months apart."
Anya tilted her head, the quiet curiosity stirring inside her. "And what did he say?"
Kaia sighed, her eyes drifting off for a moment as she remembered.
"He apologized. For disappearing, for everything. Said he'd been caught up in some mess and couldn't get away. But the thing is, when he looked at me, I could tell he wasn't just apologizing for the time apart. He was apologizing for something deeper."
Anya's brow furrowed. "That sounds intense. Did you—?"
Kaia cut her off with a playful wave. "I'm not about to make any rash decisions, Anya. But the way he looked at me? Like he regretted all the time he lost? It was... surprising. Honestly, I didn't expect it. And as much as I wanted to stay mad at him, I couldn't. He's... different.
I don't know how to explain it."
Anya smiled faintly, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "Sounds like someone's falling for him."
Kaia raised an eyebrow, her teasing tone suddenly shifting. "Oh, stop. I'm just saying—he's definitely made an impression. But I'm taking it slow. No rushing into anything, not yet."
Anya's gaze softened, her eyes finding Kaia's with a quiet sincerity. "I'm happy for you, Kaia. You deserve someone who treats you right and you deserve to be happy."
Kaia met Anya's gaze, her smile warm, a mixture of gratitude and affection.
"Thank you, Anya. I've been thinking about that a lot, actually. About how much I want the people around me to be happy. Especially you."
She reached over, squeezing Anya's hand lightly.
"I know you're still figuring things out, but you'll get there. You've always been so strong, and you're not alone, okay?"
Anya squeezed her hand in return, her smile small but real. "I'm trying, Kaia. I really am."
The two of them shared a moment of quiet understanding, the bond between them unspoken but strong, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Anya felt something like peace settle in her chest. It wasn't everything, but it was something.
Kaia leaned back in her chair, her eyes twinkling with a teasing glint. "But seriously, the way he showed up out of the blue? It was like something out of a movie. I swear, the next thing I'm going to tell you is that he's secretly a spy or something."
Anya snorted, a laugh bubbling up from somewhere deep inside her. "That would be too much, Kaia. No way."
Kaia grinned, her fingers picking at a piece of fruit. "You never know. In my life, anything's possible."