Page 52 of Pocket Full Of Posies

Chapter 18: Kai

My mother approaches our table with a gorgeous Nysa at her side. Pink and teal moth wings are folded demurely at her back, her opalescent hands folded at her waist, while her downy antenna bob gently above her brow. Her smile is pristine and conveys easy friendliness. She looks kind enough, but I know that’s a farce. She’s as prickly and deadly as a machete.

“Kai, there you are. Where have you been hiding?”

“Not hiding, just not attempting to speak to every single person in attendance,” I mutter but she doesn’t seem to hear as she turns her attention to Daisy.

“And this must be the elusive Daisy. How nice of you to attend. I was worried that I may never meet you.”

My mom extends a hand in that strange way that’s more expecting a kiss on the knuckles than a shake. Daisy, to her credit, accepts it only a little awkwardly not knowing what to do with it.

“Yes, it’s so nice to meet you Mrs. Kingsley.”

“Oh, please call me Naomi.” She looks Daisy up and down in her inquisitive and judgmental way. “You’re quite pretty. Not what I expected.”

I want to demand what exactly she did expect, but keep my mouth shut, not wanting to start an argument in the middle of a party and in front of Daisy.

“Um, thank you.”

My mother remains silent for a long awkward moment. No one offering to fill the space and break the tension until she’s done with her perusal of Daisy.

“I’d like to introduce you to a special guest of mine. This is Nysa.” Nysa takes a half step forward and inclines her head in greeting, having waited dutifully for her introduction before participating in the conversation. High bred, indeed. “She’s a friend of the family. I believe Kai is already acquainted with her, aren’t you Kai?”

So, her play is to rub my past sexual partners in Daisy’s face. Low blow even for her. I haven’t concealed my past from Daisy, but I also haven’t paraded it out in front of her, in public. I had hoped to keep the past in the past, but it seems my mother has made that choice for me and is strutting it out on a red carpet for all to see.

“Yes. Kai and I met nearly ten years ago. We were very close.”

Nysa practically eye-fucks me and brushes her fingers along her collarbone all demure and shit. She isnotdemure. She may act like it and have all the practiced mannerisms of a socialite, but she is devious and heartless. Ten years ago, I was fucking anyone who struck my fancy and there’s no denying her physical beauty. Once I discovered her inner ugly, I was out. I didn’t want her then and I most definitely don’t want her now.

My expression remains flat and impassive, an expression I’m not used to wearing but am tired of masking and smiling and playing the part of idiotic party boy. Not that I don’t still enjoy a good party—current environment excluded—and having fun, I just want to spend all that time with Daisy now.

And I’m tired of being brushed off as the dumb one. Just because I like to drink, fuck, and have a little fun doesn’t mean I’m uneducated. Something most people don’t know is that I have my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. In between traveling and ignoring my family I went to school. Sure, it started because I was bored but it led to me continuing my education. I like helping animals. I would love to work with them on a regular basis but how? Where? Who would hire me? And hire me for my skill and ability, not because of my family name. It’s a pipe dream I sometimes dream about but have no idea how to manifest.

“Oh. It’s very nice to meet you Nysa. I’m Daisy.”

Daisy extends her hand to Nysa, who just looks down at it distastefully, not reciprocating the civility.

“Yes, Naomi has told me all about Kai’s new female. I must say I’m surprised he’s committed himself to only one. If memory serves, he was quite the philanderer.”

“And the past has nothing to do with the present. Daisy is my girlfriend. Myonlygirlfriend.”

My declaration may be made a tad aggressively, but I don’t give a shit. Mom may be abiding by my rules, but I won’t let this slide. She can parade around females and males and flaunt my sexual proclivity and none of it matters. Daisy is my present and my future. Nysa is my past and that’s where she’s going to stay.

“I never thought I’d see the day when Kai Kingsley was monogamous.”

“And I never thought I’d see the day when a Chambers attended a Kingsley private event. What exactly are you doing here again?”

Nysa doesn’t even flinch, not even a twitch in her wings. Only a tightening of her lips indicates her displeasure.

“I’m a personal guest of your mother’s. I was invited and I decided to attend, just like every other guest present."

Yeah, I don’t believe that for one second. I don’t know what my mom said to convince her to attend tonight, and it doesn’t matter. We just need to get through this conversation, appease both Daisy and my mother then leave and get dinner atDottie’s.

~Daisy~

From the tone of the conversation, it’s obvious Nysa is a past sexual partner of Kai’s. It’s easy to tell that Kai is irritated at her presence, and I don’t even have to hear it in his words, it’s written all over his face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him unsmiling for this long.

I want to assure Kai that I knew of his past and I accept him as he is, but now is not the time. And although it’s clear where his affections lie, it’s hard not to feel jealous staring at his beautiful ex-lover. Nysa is magnificent. Her coloring, wings, elegance, and beauty. She’s a perfect match for Kai. Wearing a chic low-cut dress that shows off her figure and unique skin tone, she’s the type of female his family would want him with, who they would approve of. That must be why his mother invited her tonight, in the hopes they would rekindle their romantic relationship.

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