Page 14 of Finding Tane
She opened the door a moment later. She looked a lot more relaxed, and accepted the drink with a smile. “Thanks, big bro. Broseph. My elder, my hyung...”
Relieved, I laughed too, if she was making stupid jokes I knew whatever had happened couldn’t have been too bad.
“I’m here, any time you want to talk, you know that right?”
Ivy wrapped her hands around the mug and nodded. “Yeah. I know. When there’s something to talk about I’ll come right to you, promise.”
“Okay. Goodnight, then.”
I still felt a little uneasy, but I left her to it.
Chapter Seven
Tane
The next few days I visited the grocery store every day, saying hi to Dillon if he was around, chatting with Christian, his assistant and I even agreed to sign Ivy’s vinyl for her, although I did it as covertly as possible. It wouldn’t do to have other people notice me.
I had a little routine going, sitting on the same park bench to have a snack. Walking up and down Main Street, visiting the various shops. I even picked up some books and tried reading them.
In the evenings, I managed to fool around a little with my guitar. Doing it in front of Dillon seemed to have unlocked the block I’d been having over music. I didn’t make anything groundbreaking, or even particularly interesting, but I was having fun with it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d made music just for the fun of it, without thinking about if it would be marketable or not.
I ate out a couple of nights but there were really only two restaurants, and the premade sandwiches were great but I liked hot food in the evening.
Finally, I got up the courage to ask Dillon if he’d allow me to cook something for him. I’d done the necessary preparation for what I wanted to make, and the time was right.
It was awkward, because of course there was no stove or oven at the motel, so I was basically inviting myself over to his house, but we’d been friendly ever since I’d run out of his apartment in a panic.
That evening had got intense somehow, but it was in a good way. A frightening way, but good. I wasn’t sure what might have happened if Ivy hadn’t shown up.
It was Saturday when I managed to grab Dillon. “Hey, um, I wanted to repay you for dinner the other night. I’m not much of a cook but I thought I could make something Kiwi for you.”
“Kiwi?” Dillon’s eyes cut to the fruit and vegetable section. “Kiwi as in the bird, not the fruit. It’s what we call ourselves, in Aotearoa, although I don’t know why. It’s a stupid, round flightless bird, but there you have it.”
I bit my tongue. I was babbling.
Babbling! Like a nervous teenager chatting up his crush.
“Oh! That would be wonderful, thank you,” Dillon said after a moment. I guessed he’d needed the time to parse what I’d been babbling about.
“The thing is, I’d need to use your kitchen for it,” I said.
“Sure, of course.” Dillon nodded. “I’m here until six again but if you want to head up earlier, I think Ivy is there. She might join us, I don’t know if she has plans or anything.” Something flickered across his face, concern maybe, and I remembered how Ivy had looked upset the other night.
“Is she okay?”
Dillon’s smile only lifted one side of his mouth. “I think so. I don’t really know what’s going on there. She’ll be over the moon to spend time with you, though.”
I smiled, mentally bracing myself. “Okay, well, if it’s okay then I can head over this afternoon and get things started?”
Dillon took a breath. “It’s... the kitchen is... I like how it’s organised. Can you please be sure and return everything to the place you’ve found it when you’re done?”
I nodded. “Yes, of course I will. You can trust me. I’ll just pick up a few things first.”
Dillon breathed out heavily. “I’ll text Ivy and let her know to expect you, and again. I’m sorry in advance.”
Laughing, I waved off his apology. “I’ve dealt with fans before, Dillon, I’m sure it will be fine.”
I went to collect the ingredients I needed — while I was sure Dillon would have some of them in his kitchen, I didn’t want to risk messing things up with rooting through his supplies. Better to take new ones and contain the chaos. I wasn’t super confident with many dishes, but I was going to make some old favourites, and I was sure I’d impress him.
