filled my stomach. It felt like a revival and was the first time I experienced a rush of happiness without the burden of guilt.
Four days ago, Kai tied a rose to my bike, with a note asking me to dinner Friday night.
Three days ago, Kai drove to Chase’s house. They spent the day together, and when I showed up to see them, I caught my two guys laughing and smiling in the kitchen. And when we left, Kai said, “See you later, brother,” before hugging Chase. This was my favorite gift by far. I kissed Kai on the cheek that night.
Two days ago, Kai left a dress for me to wear for our date on my doorstep. It wasn’t the revealing sort of number Violet would have made me wear. It wasn’t flashy or short. It didn’t make me blush. It was a teal summer dress the color of my eyes. It hit me at the knee and showed off my shoulders.
Yesterday, Kai gave me a bottle of my favorite sunscreen. It was a hard-to-find specialty brand that smelled like citrus. I loved this sunscreen and used it in place of makeup. I was touched that Kai took the time and care to find the brand I loved so much.
Today, Kai came to my door, wearing jeans and a navy button-down oxford shirt. His normally wind-mussed hair was styled perfectly. I spun around for him in my dress to show it off. We both laughed and admired how good the other looked. And Kai looked damned good. The jeans hugged his ass perfectly, and his muscles rippled underneath the slim-fit button-down.
“You look absolutely beautiful, Breeze,” Kai said breathily as he kissed my forehead. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes!” I replied eagerly. I was more than ready for this dinner that symbolized a new start to our relationship.
Kai took me to a restaurant on a peninsula that had a stunning view of the ocean on one side and our little island on the other. It was a casual place that we could have gone to in our swimsuits, but we weren’t out of place either. I was glad I had curled my hair into waves and put a little shimmer on my cheekbones like Celeste had shown me on the beach. It made tonight feel even more special.
We sat at a table that overlooked the water. A candle between us burned softly, creating a cozy glow. After our waiter had taken our order, Kai reached down and pulled out a small black velvet jewelry box. He opened the lid and passed it to me. His eyes twinkled with emotion, but the rigid way he sat hinted at the anxiety he felt. The light from the flame flickered off of the pair of silver surfboards nestled in the box as I reached my hand up to thumb the matching surfboard currently nuzzled against my neck.
“They’re beautiful, thank you so much,” I said as I lifted them out of their box. When I turned them over, I saw one had been engraved with a B and the other a K. Emotion welled up in my eyes as I looked at the kind and caring man sitting opposite from me. It was a long and hard road for us, but it was worth every tear and every bit of pain to get here.
“I love you, Kai,” I breathed.
“I love you too, my Little Whisper.”
We stared in silence, basking in the peace of the moment. The sun had almost fully set, leaving nothing but a sliver of light over the ocean line. Kai breathed deeply before speaking again, as if he were anxious. “I know I’ve apologized before, but I’d like to say sorry again for distancing myself after everything came to light.”
I swallowed. “It was a very painful time,” I admitted, making Kai’s shoulders slump. “But I think it was necessary for our story. We needed to pause. We needed to grow. Everything happened so fast. I fell in love with you in an instant.”
Kai nodded. “I rushed this thing between us and then slammed on the brakes when the reality of it all came crashing around us. But I never stopped loving you.”
I felt anxious. This was such an important moment. I knew we were both ready. I knew it was time to give us a genuine shot at happiness. I’d focused on myself. I’d done the work to heal. Kai had patiently waited, and we both were in a good place. “I