Page 16 of Rekindled

"Ha!" I took a step toward him. "I'll do you one better. Why don't you go sleep outside in the woods with the rest of the wildlife? You've always enjoyed freedom and being unattached, right? So you should be right at home out there."

"Okay." Journee stepped in the gap between Kai and I. "How about we just keep things cute?"

Kai and I stared at one another, eye warring as our egos refused to let us break eye contact with one another.

He really looked great. Nothing about him had changed. I'd been avoiding running into him at events for this very reason – coming face-to-face with the fact that our breakup hadn’t affected or changed him in the least.

I grunted. "I'm going out on the deck. Journee?"

"I'm there," my best friend confirmed, following close behind.

The second we stepped out onto the deck, the brisk Colorado air was there to greet us.

I dropped all of my bodyweight down onto one side of the two-piece sectional and slammed my back against the cushion. "How am I supposed to survive two days withhim?"

"You swiped athimfirst."

I whipped my head in her direction and she held up a hand.

"I'm just saying," she doubled down on her comment. "You didn't have to get all Maven on him. It's Christmas Eve. Cut him some slack. He’s just as surprised to see you here as you are to see him."

I sighed. "Please don't make me say I was wrong out loud."

"The situation is less than ideal, I'll admit," she started. "I'll also admit that I put you in this predicament. So, I owe you a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and a delicious surf and turf meal."

My eyes lit up. If there was one thing my best friend knew how to do, it was to make things happen in the kitchen. And after my flight, I could use a delicious home cooked meal. "See, now you're speaking my love language."

"Let's run to the market, pick up a few things. I can work my magic in the kitchen and after our bellies are full, we can sort everything out."

I smiled with appreciation. "Sounds like a plan I can get with."

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