argue further. But was curious for reasons she wouldn’t admit out loud about the other mention Keeana had made. “And Dru?”
“Oh, my boyfriend,” she said, not hesitating. She watched Keola leaving the table, the small noise the girl made evidence of her opinion on her mother’s boyfriend. “She doesn’t like how much time I spend with him.”
“He’s a good dude,” Kai said, easing against his chair. Gia smiled at him, understanding the small blessing for what it was. He had told her there was nothing between he and Keeana anymore. He’d even mentioned her having someone back home. Gia just wasn’t sure why he was reiterating the point to her now.
“You had him vetted?” she couldn’t help but ask, clicking her tongue to the roof of her mouth when he looked away, moving his attention at the window as if he wasn’t brave or stupid enough to look at his ex directly.
“He’s spending time with you and my pēpē, you think I’m not going to find out what he’s about?”
Gia shook her head, not sure if she should leave and let them scream at each other or sit back and enjoy the show. She had a feeling that the way they spoke to each other and all the bickering was something they’d always done.
“You’re such an invasive…”
“And thorough…”
“I would never have your girlfriends checked out!” Her voice was loud, but she smiled as though she was more shocked than angry. “Well, if you ever got off your ass and got a girlfriend.” Keeana leaned forward, slapping Kai’s pointing finger away before he could defend himself. “Gia, you’re his neighbor. Does Kai ever have girls over? I want to…what did you call it? ‘Vet’ them. Yeah, I need to vet them.”
“There’s only been one,” Kai admitted, moving back to lean against his chair. He folded his arms, his smile lowering as he looked between his ex and Gia. “And…well, you don’t need to vet her. She’s been vetted.”
Gia cocked an eyebrow, keeping her expression neutral, hoping Keeana had taken enough wine that her deductive reasoning wasn’t quite as sharp enough to understand Kai’s meaning. Judging by how the woman grinned, how her smile broadened, Gia doubted there was enough wine in the world to conceal his meaning.
“Good,” she said, looking between them with her glass in her hand, ready to down what remained of her wine. “I think that’s really good.”
Under the table, Gia felt Kai’s hand slip onto her thigh. He didn’t look at her, didn’t watch her at all, and let Keeana steer the conversation onto less argument-inducing topics. But Kai kept his hand on her leg, like they’d never fought, like he’d never seen her Polaroids or been disgusted by her constant adamance that they couldn’t be together. It seemed, to Gia, Kai had all the permission he needed for them to be a couple in the approving smile Keeana gave them.
She wished she could be that easy, that confident about what she wanted to happen with Kai.
It was another twenty minutes before Gia left. She promised Keeana and Keola to take them out for a girls’ only brunch on the twenty-seventh, and they all made plans to spend New Year’s Eve together, watching the fireworks go off from Kai’s view of the river. She looked forward to seeing them again and slipped from his apartment, was nearly to her own door when Kai emerged into the hallway, stopping her before she unlocked her door.
“I like them,” she admitted, not sure why that was the first thing to leave her mouth. But Kai’s smile came so easy when she said that, and he didn’t let her stop him when he pulled her into a hug. Gia decided, for one night at least, she’d forget about the danger of losing her job or the trouble that could come to them if anyone saw them together. It was Christmas night. She’d give herself this small gift.
“They like you,” he said, looking down at her hands, moving her fingers to the center of his massive palm. “They…aren’t the only ones.” Gia jerked her gaze to his face, to the smile that was small, but sure, to the sincere glimmer in his eyes when he stared down at her. “I…hated fighting with you.” Kai pressed his lips together, looking like he wasn’t used to apologizing to anyone. “I was…confused and frustrated and…” He seemed to give up explaining, lowering his shoulders