Page 151 of Kai
“Honey, love doesn’t come in at anyone’s preconceived notion of a schedule. But look, all I can tell you is I love you, and I am so proud of you.”
My throat tightens.
“And I never, ever want you settling for anything less than you deserve.”
I blink rapidly.
“Mom…”
“If you care about him, Mary, and he makes you happy…”
She shrugs.
“I say go for it.”
“But what about you?”
She laughs.
“Me? I’ll be fine. Maybe it’s time I brought Arnold home to meet you and Kai. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Then she grins.
“That would be great, Mom.”
By the time dinner is over, my heart feels lighter.
Maybe because she's right.
Maybe because hearing her approval means more to me than I realized.
Maybe because I love her.
Probably all three.
An hour later, I'm showered and wrapped in my favorite pajamas.
And that's dangerous.
Because lying in bed alone with nothing but my thoughts means one thing.
Kai.
Always Kai.
Images of him flash through my mind.
His smile.
His laugh.
The way he calls me Firecracker.
The way he holds me afterward.
The way he looks at me like I'm precious.
Like I mean something to him.
