Chapter 23 – Ki

 

Alexa grinned at me when I finally made it down to the office the next morning. Prescot and I had every intention of waking before Alexa, but we couldn’t seem to make it far from the bed before we were wrapped up in each other again. This side of Prescot was one I could get used to: his playful, frisky side, his gentle laugh, and the softness behind his eyes. His eyes were usually so guarded, haunted, and it broke my heart to think of what memories dulled his sparkle. He hasn’t opened up about it, though I know when he’s ready, if he ever will be ready, he’ll share with me.

After showering together, and two failed attempts at getting dressed, we finally said goodbye, with Prescot’s promise that he’d see me sooner rather than later. I tried to scrub the goofy grin off my face before I walked into the office, but as soon as I saw Alexa, it was impossible to hide.

She raised an eyebrow after giving me a look over. “Sleep well?”

I flopped onto my chair with a sigh. “Alexa, I know I’ve been out of the game for a long time, but does it always feel so . . . magical?” I whispered, afraid to voice how much last night affected me.

Her face softened, a small grin played on her lips. “No, sometimes it’s downright . . . clumsy.”

We both laughed, and she told me her horror stories of bedroom mishaps. Of rope burn, underperformers, guys who were sure they’d ‘rock her world’ when she wasn’t even sure what they were trying to do. I nearly peed my pants when she told me about the guy who lost the key to the handcuffs they were using and he called his roommate for help . . . and by roommate, he meant his mom.

I wiped a tear from my eyes. “I know I only have one other man to compare last night and this morning too,” Alexa’s eyes widened in amusement, “but Prescot is the most amazing man I have ever had,” I gushed.

“And Brayden?” Alexa questioned.

“Brayden who?” I smiled, knowing that Prescot could free my trapped heart.

“So, it was magical?”

“Yes.” I kept spinning my chair in circles. I was doing it on purpose because it always made Alexa sick and I was distracting her from thinking about the detective.

“You gotta stop, Ki!”

I pushed my chair into another turn, and put my arms out. “But it’s fun!”

“You know I get sick easily.”

“Deal with it.”

 “I can’t watch other people spin in their chairs. I can’t focus on your face. However, I can spin for hours and not have any issues, but not you,” she grabbed my chair mid-spin and got in my face, “I’ll puke on you.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Don’t test me,” she said pulling my chair out from behind my desk and pushing me across our small lobby. I put my feet down before the chair hit the door.

I heard her laugh, and I started to laugh as I put my knee on the seat and pushed myself back over to my desk. “We’ve been working our asses off for years, and I think we need a little more fun in our life.”

“You’re usually the frugal one.”

“I know, but I’ll figure it all out.”

“Do you still have that check?”

“Yes, but it’s for a security system.”

“Sucks being an adult sometimes.”

“It does.”

“Have you heard from your mom?”

“No.”

“Father?”

“Which one?”

“Can I laugh at that?”

I smiled, and she laughed then answered the phone when it rang. “Thanks for calling Two Girls Investigate, this is one of them, how may I help you?”

 I checked my phone to see what time Prescot was picking me up. He scored some tickets to a show on Broadway and I’ve never been, so I was extremely excited for it. I was even going to wear one of Alexa’s fancy dresses. I had four more hours before he’d be here, and I already had my hair straightened, so I just had to apply a little makeup and change into her clothes.

She hung up and said that there was a last-minute envelope that needed to be served, so we locked up and went to see Josh. Well, she did. I stayed outside and waited for her.

“We’re going to Times Square,” she said waving the envelope. I loved it there. No matter how many times we have visited Times Square since living in New York, I never get over the excitement and noise. I feel like a tourist each time we go, my head spinning, trying to take in the bright colors, the billboards, and the rest of the tourists. Times Square was like a melting pot; people from all over the world came to do all the touristy stops: Madam Tussauds amazing wax museum, The Hard Rock café, all the incredible stores. I felt impossibly small surrounded by millions of people, skyscrapers, and the glowing neon billboards. I couldn’t hear my heart hammer in my chest each time over the loud chatter, horns honking, and the sounds of the bus tours trudging by. But every time I stepped foot in Times Square, I was reminded of how much I love this city, and how this will always be my home. I stood a few feet away while Alexa rocked her hips to the man we were serving when someone bumped my arm. I glanced up at Lucas, who didn’t look at me.

“You better get the picture.”

Pulling the camera back, I waited. “What do you want, Lucas?”

“You need to call your father.”

“I’m working on it.”

“He’s being patient right now, Ki, but it might not last much longer.”

I clicked a few times. “Are you threatening me now?”

“Fuck, Ki, I wouldn’t do that,” he said, and I dropped my camera. “I’m just saying he’s not the nicest guy.”

“I get that, but I’m still processing,” I lied. I knew I was going to do it, but making him wait felt like I still had a little control over him.

He glanced up at Alexa, who was walking toward us and said, “Process faster.”

Then he got swept away in the crowd.

“What did he want?” she asked, as I stood.

“My father wants my decision.”

“Make the asshole wait.”

“I am.”

She hooked her arm in mine, and we started walking. “So, you’re doing it?”

“Yes. Is that bad?”

“I knew you’d do it, Ki. The thought of someone dying, and knowing you could have saved their life would haunt you forever, and you’d regret it.”

“Same thing Prescot said.”

“You told him before me?”

“He guessed.”

“I like him. He’s good for you.”

“I still can’t believe he likes me. We both know he could have anyone. He’s totally out of my league. It still feels like it’s not even real. Like it’s all a dream. And I think he liked me when I had the stupid braces on.”

“He saw you, Ki, not your braces.”

We made it back with a few hours to spare. Alexa helped me get ready, checked my eyebrows, and applied a little too much makeup, but she was having fun. Despite all the crap in my life, I was in a good mood.

I was seeing Prescot.

We both jumped when someone knocked on the door, and we looked at each other. “He’s not supposed to be here yet,” I told her standing up to check my face. It didn’t look that bad.

“I’ll stall him while you finish getting ready.”

I ran to my room, shut the door, and stripped off my clothes. I pulled the long sleeves on and then tied the wrap dress perfectly to the side. I did a few squats to test the slit it gave; I couldn’t be showing off my thong to strangers. I sniffed my armpits, they were good; I splashed a tiny amount of perfume in all the places Alexa told me to and ran my fingers through my hair. I grabbed my clutch and cell phone off the charger and checked my messages. There was nothing from him, but maybe he was going to surprise me with something before the show. Or maybe he just couldn’t wait to see me.

I admired myself one more time.

I turned around as the door opened and Alexa was standing in front of me, with tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Prescot.”

“Duh, but why are you crying?”

“Ki.” A familiar voice came from behind her and I looked over Alexa’s shoulder.

“Molly? What are you doing here?”

“There was an accident.”