Page 29 of Rekindled

"So what's the problem now?"

"Man to man?"

Zyair gestured with his hand for me to continue.

"I think I pushed her too far away."

Zyair twisted his lips to one side this time.

"I showed her where my mind was, my major priority, and what I would sacrifice for it, and she was that sacrifice. I made my choice and I might not be able to take it back."

"I don't know, man." He propelled himself off the counter. "I think you might be wrong on that one. And I think there are worse things you could have done."

I stared at him with a cocked brow.

"Maven hasn't been with anyone since you. I know this because if she had been, I would have heard the dude's name through Journee. Just like you, it doesn't seem like Maven has made any moves toward moving on."

I leaned back in my seat.

"You can have both, Kai. The career, the girl, the life you really want. Look at me."

"Yeah, but you said so yourself, you never made work a priority over Journee. She's never had to feel like she was competing with the other for you. I've made Maven feel that way. Is there really coming back from that?"

"I don't know." Zyair clapped his hands once. "What I know is that you would have better luck finding that out quicker than I would. Probably even tonight."

He drummed a rhythm on the counter with his fists.

"As for me..." He turned to face the direction where Journee and Maven were sitting in front of the fireplace. "I plan to spend the rest of my first Christmas Eve as a husband with the woman who agreed to marry my corny ass."

I snorted a laugh.

"'Cause Lord knows a man like me got lucky landing a woman like that." He turned to face me. "And you need to take your balls out of your leather backpack you lugged up here..."

"Here you go..."

"And get your girl," he finished. "Go fix whatever you feel you messed up because believe me, bruh, she has not closed that door. Maven is leaving that joint wide open and if it is closed like you think it is, she hasn't changed the locks. I see the way she looks at you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he doubled down on his answer. "Even when she looked like she wanted to rip your eyes out of their sockets, she still seemed to have a little warmth there in her heart for you."

Zyair adjusted the collar of his sweater. "Make it happen, Kai. And if y'all get into another screaming match,pleasekeep it down, I really am not trying to leave that bedroom for anything tonight, feel me?"

I chuckled, holding out my fist for him to pound. "I got you."

"Cool." Zyair accepted my pound. "Now go and work your magic."

∞∞∞

I tossed my head back, laughing, Journee joining in with me.

"Did his suit look like Armani?" she asked.

"Not really." I rested my wine glass in front of me on the rug. "I mean look, if you have to say who the designer of your outfit is when no one asked, then you probably shouldn't be wearing it."

"Okay!"

"Would it even matter?" I added. I dropped my head back between my shoulders. "This dating life has become such a waste for me, girl."

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