It's All Relative(48)

“Don’t worry, Mom. She hasn’t sent any she-devils my way.” His mom let out a soft laugh at his obvious joke and Kai smiled. “Besides, I’m too busy with work right now to worry about that stuff.” Knowing his mom wouldn’t take that as an excuse, since she did want grandchildren one day, he quickly added, “Maybe once I’ve settled in some more, I’ll start…looking.”

His mother sighed, and there was clear defeat in her exhale. “All right, Kai. Don’t work too hard.”

Kai smiled as he pictured his tired, worried mother. “I won’t, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you, too, Kai. I’ll call again soon.”

Knowing soon was probably tomorrow, Kai laughed. “All right, go rest. Take a nap or something.” She assured him that she would, told him she loved him again, and hung up the phone.

Shaking his head at his anxiety-prone mother, Kai turned his thoughts to his father. He hadn’t heard from him since he’d arrived here. Thinking it was odd that his dad hadn’t called to check on him yet, Kai briefly wondered if he should give him a call, to make sure everything was okay. Plus, he still hadn’t told his dad about Gran falling. Kai was sure he would want to know that his mom had gotten hurt. Glancing at the clock again, he set down his phone. It was too early to call. He’d do it later, when it was a more decent hour.

Later in the day, after Kai had finally gotten up to take a shower, he called his dad. Surprisingly, the conversation was brief and almost strained. Kai wasn’t sure why it had felt awkward when he ended the call; he and his dad had always had a good relationship. They had similar personalities and common interests. Truly, they got along great, and Kai was a little mystified by the detachment he’d heard on the other end of the line. He’d also been surprised that his dad had already known about Gran’s accident. He hadn’t known all the specifics, and Kai had filled him in as best he could, but he hadn’t been surprised to hear about it. Gran must have called her son at some point and told him herself.

As Kai wondered why everyone in his life seemed to be acting strangely, he got ready for his day. Maybe it was just the distance that was making everyone so odd. His parents were used to seeing him every day. His grandmother was used to not seeing him at all. Surely, they were all just reacting to the strangeness of their new situation. Kai knew he was.

Locking up his apartment, Kai headed down to his bike in the garage. He was going to do a little shopping before meeting up with Jessie, pick up those long johns she’d suggested, or something similar. And maybe he would find something to surprise her with while he was out. It was the least he could do, since she was always surprising him with nice things.

Kai smiled as he climbed onto his bike. He suddenly knew just what he could get her.





Jessie was pacing, and anxious nerves were coursing through her body as she watched the clock on the living room wall get closer and closer to five o’clock. She had no idea why, but in a moment of weakness, she’d asked Kai to come over for dinner. It wasn’t a good idea, but her roommates would have to meet him eventually. Her friends were just too much a part of her life for that not to happen. The girls frequently hung out together or stayed home together. Living with her best friends was a bit stifling at times, but the girls were close, and it would be really odd if Jessie kept keeping her newly-in-town cousin away.

She really didn’t know if her friends would remember Kai or not, and just the thought of them discovering what she’d done with him had her stomach in a tangled snarl. God, they’d be sick if they knew. Jessie put both palms on her stomach as she walked around the spacious room. It still made her feel sick, and she’d had over a week to come to terms with the fact.

Her home was filled with the smell of a roast simmering away in her crockpot. Jessie hadn’t known what to make Kai for dinner, but pot-roast had seemed like a good choice; it screamed comfort food to her. If Kai was feeling a little homesick, and he had to be on some level, then maybe the meal would remind him of his mom. Assuming she’d made the same meals for him that Jessie’s mom had made for her, of course.

Jessie wasn’t sure, since she hadn’t ever heard much about Kai’s mom. For some reason, no one in the family really talked about her. Jessie didn’t know the details, but apparently, her divorce from Uncle Nate had been a nasty one. Kai still seemed to be close to both parents though, and his mom and dad still worked together, so some small level of respect must still be present between them. Jessie didn’t want to ask Kai about his parents though. It felt too…intrusive.

Her stomach rumbled as she ran her hands through her ringlets. She’d spent longer than she cared to admit taming her hair into distinct, defined curls, instead of the wild, out of control mess it could easily fall into sometimes. She hoped Kai liked it. Sometimes she caught him staring at her hair; he usually smiled when he did. A wistful sigh escaped Jessie. She shouldn’t care if a boy liked her hair. This wasn’t a date. This was her cousin coming over for dinner, nothing more.

Just as she was about to check on the potatoes roasting in the oven, April sauntered into the room. Her long black hair was luxurious, shiny, and super-straight. Sometimes Jessie wished she had her friend’s hair. Her kinky mess could be so frustrating at times.

“Hey,” April stated, as she sat on the couch and crossed her ankles. She was wearing a miniskirt with black boots that almost went past her knees. The skin showing between her knee and the skirt’s short hemline was lean and trim, and for a second, Jessie wished for her friend’s slim figure. Jessie’s curvier physique wouldn’t have pulled off the look nearly as well.