Page 36 of Kai
"Honey, you sound distracted. What's wrong? Or should I guess?"
"Are you free for lunch?" Maxie glanced at her schedule quickly and winced. "I can probably find thirty minutes of free time."
"Meet me at Lorraine's. I have a hankering for some lobster cappuccino."
Maxie did not bother to remind her that she was supposed to be dieting.
"Wonderful. Let me get through these paperwork and make some calls and I'll be on my way."
Sitting back in the chair, she stared at the phone. He had not called. Of course, she did not expect him to. She had told him she needed time, and he was letting her have it. Should she call him? She started to reach for the phone and then pulled back. Taking a deep breath, she looked up gratefully as Marge stood there framed inside the doorway, obviously needing her attention.
"God, that hits the spot." Yvette sighed and stretched -- golden-brown eyes taking in the lunch crowd. "I see Iona is back in town." A spiteful smile curved her lips as she stared at the thin, emaciated looking former model across the room.
"You're staring and that's incredibly rude."
"She's the bitch who almost cost me my job. I'm going to stare holes into her until she feels it and turns around to notice me."
Pushing away her half-eaten salad, Maxie touched her hand briefly, bringing the girl's attention back to her.
"Oh, sorry." Yvette muttered with a grin. "Man, crisis in the making. What has he done now?"
"He wants me to move in with him."
"That bastard. I hope you told him where to get off."
Shooting her friend a pained look, she picked up her glass and took a sip of the sparkling water. "He said he loved me, but asked me to move in. It's sending mixed signals."
Yvette eyed her speculatively as she sipped her glass of Perrier. "You want marriage."
"Of course I do." Maxie waved an impatient hand. "I might sound old-fashioned, but the idea of living with a man without the permanency is something I never thought of doing."
"Especially if that man is Kai Tanaka. Honey, you have been doodling both your names in various notebooks since high school."
"How did you--" She sighed dramatically. "You found one of them when you were at the sleepover a few years ago."
"And I think it's so sweet." Her friend grinned at her.
"I spent so many years dreaming of becoming his wife, that it became a part of my entire life. Why on earth would he say he loves me and then follow it up by asking me to move in with him?" She wondered.
"He might not be ready for such a commitment but cannot bear the thought of living apart from you." Yvette realized her friend was staring into her water with a distracted expression.
"Have you heard a word I just said?"
"I'm sorry," Maxie said, shaking herself out of her reverie. "It's just... what if I've misunderstood him? What if asking me to move in is his way of saying he's serious about us? That he sees this as leading to something more?"
Yvette raised an eyebrow. "And what if it isn't? What if this is all he's willing to offer?"
The bluntness of her friend's words stung, but Maxie knew Yvette had a point. She had never been one to settle, and even the thought of compromising on something as deeply rooted as her dream of marriage felt like surrendering a part of herself.
As if sensing the turmoil swirling in her mind, Yvette softened her tone. "Honey, you have to decide what you want. Not justfrom Kai, but for yourself. And don't let fear of losing him make you choose something that doesn't feel right."
Maxie nodded, grateful for the advice, even if it complicated the matter further. The waitress arrived, clearing their plates and leaving behind a small bowl of fresh strawberries and cream. Maxie smiled faintly, the simple dessert reminding her of lighter times.
"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice steady despite the storm brewing within. "He deserves an answer -- and I need to figure out what mine will be."
Fury carried him through the morning and the rest of the day. He had been tempted several times to turn around. Return to her place and demand that she come back home with him. Throw some things into a case and force her to do his bidding.
But that would not be the way. He wanted her to want to live with him. He damn well wanted her to tell him what was in her bloody heart. He could not help but notice with bitter clarity that the tide had turned. He was the one practically begging her to be with him. And could not help but wonder if this was some sort oftwisted sick revenge on her part? Was she paying him back for hurting her? And if that was the case, could he blame her?
