Revealing Kia (12 page)

“I’m glad you like it,”
she said and rose to her feet. She walked into the kitchen.

Nessie got me
a little black book with a bunch of numbers and names already scribbled inside. I flipped through it, growing warier by the second.

“Ness
… what?” I held open one of the pages for her to see.

Nessie grinned. “It’s your own personal Little Black Book filled with a list of all
the hottest guys in our school.” She leaned over and pointed. “And I even rated them by stars with five being like, smoking hot. I thought that now with your sexy new look you should have a sexy boy-toy on your arm.”

There were at least fifty names and numbers and I didn’t recognize a single one.

“Wow, Ness … I don’t know what to say,” I said, smiling as brightly as I could for her. “It’s just what I always wanted.”

She beamed and
pulled back. “I know. Just use it. I really need my BFF to go double dating with me. Oh!” She smacked me on the arm. “I got you something else, too.”

She hopped over the mountain of discarded wrapping paper towards the tree. I watched her go, her
present a hot piece of coal in my hands.

A movement caught my eye and I turned to catch Adam watching me. His expression gave nothing away, but I
felt the dark heat behind his eyes as though he were right there beside me, touching me. I stifled a gasp and quickly looked away as Nessie returned, dropping a gift bag into my lap.

My fingers were shaking as I drew out the purple tissue paper and reached inside for the folded item inside. Setting down the bag, I unfolded the dress and squeaked, quickly stuffing it back into the bag.

“Nessie!” I hissed, horrified.

“What?” Reaching around me, she yanked the thing back out and held it up. “It’s adorable and perfect for your first date.”

“My first … what?”

She rolled her eyes and plucked up the black book and waved it at me. “Duh.”

“You wear that … in
public
?”

It was a beautiful, deep plum color that I actually liked, but the skirt went higher than mid-thigh
, the neckline plunged into places that I wasn’t comfortable showing people and I could swear it went transparent every time the light hit it a certain way.

Nessie frowned and eyed the dress. “
Where else would you wear it?”

“I can think of a few places,” Adam supplied in a husky tone that sent shivers straight
to the pit of my stomach and had my toes curling.

Nessie
bared her teeth. “You’re a pig.” She bunched the dress up and stuffed it into the bag. “You don’t have to wear it. It’s fine.”

Torn by guilt, I took the bag from
her. “No, I love it. Thank you. I’m totally going to wear it first chance I get.”

“Kia, there’s another one for you here.”

I dropped the black book into the bag and reached for the rectangular box. I was surprised by the weight as I set it on my lap. There was no note, only my name on a Christmas tag. Curious, I tore off the paper and pulled back the lid.

“Holy…!”
The rest of my words were a series of swear words that would have horrified my mother.

Tossing aside the box, I scooped up the beautiful, leather bound
multipurpose agenda book into my hands and flipped it open, barely suppressing my squeal of excitement. I ran my fingers over the colorful little tabs along the side, each marking the calendar, address book, notes and so much more. On the inside cover was a built in calculator and wallet. There was even a sleek, silver fountain pen.

“It’s an agenda book,” Nessie muttered
, clearly not understanding my excitement.

“I know!” I exclaimed, my voice conveying very clearly just what a big deal this was. “I saw this the other day while we were shopping.
I wanted to steal it, but Adam wouldn’t let me.”

Adam.
My head shot up. Adam grinned at me.

“Did you—?”

“Coffee!” Mrs. Chaves called. “And breakfast.”

“But there are
still presents under the tree!” Nessie whined, but rose to her feet and wandered into the dining room.

“We’ll come back to
them,” her father promised, wading through the mess to take the steaming mug his wife offered him.

Adam
, whom I had yet to stop staring at, got to his feet and strolled casually around the coffee table towards me.

“I can’t tell you how much I love this,” I told him, hugging the agenda book to my chest.

He stopped in front of me bent at the waist so we were nearly eyelevel. “You can show me later.” He hooked a finger into the straps of the gift bag Nessie had given me, the one with the indecent dress and lightly dropped it into my lap. His blue eyes danced with dark amusement as mine went wide with realization. “I also think we should have a fire and burn that little black book.”

I laughed. He grinned as he
straightened and walked into the dining room.

I set my cool new book down on my small pile of gifts and followed the others.
Breakfast was cold cereal and toast. No one complained as we ate hurriedly. I helped with the dishes as Adam and Kenny collected wrappers and garbage off the ground. Mr. Chaves helped dry as I washed. Mrs. Chaves swept the floors really quickly. Nessie was the only one on the sofa, arms folded, one foot propped on the coffee table.

“That all could have waited,” she grumbled as we finished the cleanup and joined her in the sitting room.

“Well, think how much more relaxing it’s going to be if we don’t have to clean later,” her mother replied, sitting in the armchair.

Nessie ignored her. Mr. Chaves was back at the tree and the dwindling gifts underneath.
I knew there was one down there that belonged to Adam from me. My stomach coiled in knots every time Mr. Chaves plucked one up. It would uncoil only to tense up again.

The next box was one of the larger ones and I recognized it even before Mr. Chaves said Nessie’s name. Adam and I exchanged secretive grins as she tore into it.

“Adam, it’s awesome!” she exclaimed, clutching her enormous makeup set to her chest. It even had a set of brushes and a cute little metal box that opened up like steps on either side for everything to go inside. I’d known the minute I saw it that Nessie would love it. “You finally did good, dork.”

“
Vanessa!” Mrs. Chaves scolded.

“You’re welcome.” Adam chuckled. “Kia picked it.”

Nessie looked at me. “Maybe something good came out of splitting up.”

I
said nothing as I watched her get the gift from me, a mani and pedi set with some machine thing that blew dry nails. There was also a buffer and polisher thing. It was all very elaborate and totally out of my element, but Nessie squealed and tackled me in a hug so I took that to mean she liked it. 

“Adam, this one’s for you.”

My gut clenched as Mr. Chaves passed over my gift. I bit down hard on my lip as Adam went through the torturous pace of opening the wrapper. I wanted to scream at him to just rip it open already, but I was too busy trying not to freak out.

“Oh those are lovely!” Mrs. Chaves said, sipping daintily on her coffee. “Weren’t you looking for your tie a few weeks back?”

Adam’s gaze met mine, the amusement curling around his mouth. “I was.”

“Well, there you go then,” his mom said. “Now you have a whole set.” Her brows furrowed as she leaned a little closer to take a peek through the plastic casing containing the eight pairs of
ties. “But I think there’s one missing. I only count seven.” His mother took it from him and counted. “Yes, there is one missing,” she observed. “The red one. Kia, do you still have the receipt? I’m sure we can exchange it.”

I felt my cheeks burn as Adam’s
gaze flashed and his grin broadened.

“
It must have fallen out while I was wrapping it,” I mumbled, fidgeting under the knowing look in Adam’s eyes. “I’ll look for it upstairs.”

Humming, Mrs. Chaves handed it back to Adam. “It’s such a great gift, Kia.”

“I agree,” Adam murmured.

I ducked my head and watched as the last of the gifts were distributed. We did another clean of our mess before the family dispersed to play with their new things. Nessie wasted no time tearing into the makeup kit Adam had gotten her and
Kenny was engrossed in the techno gadget magazine someone had given him. Mr. and Mrs. Chaves were in the kitchen, starting Christmas dinner. That left me.

I scooped
my things up and headed upstairs to stow them away. I dropped everything onto the bed and drew out my suitcase. There were only two days of holiday left and I wanted to keep organized for when it was time to leave.

“So do I have to frisk you for my tie?” The door closed with a resounding click.

I started. My head snapped around to find Adam leaning against the door, ankles folded, one hand in his pocket, the other holding something white dangling at his side. He looked devastatingly mouthwatering.

“Who says I have it?” I said, turning back to my things.

I
felt
every thump of his bare feet on the floor as he crossed the room. I felt the burning heat of his presence push against my back the closer he drew. I felt his eyes tracing every line of my body and stood completely paralyzed, anxiously waiting … waiting. But he didn’t touch me. He was close, but deliberately too far.

The thing he held was tossed onto the bed. I recognized it as a white dress shirt, but I didn’t understand why he was giving it to me.

“What…?”

His hands slid around my waist
. His chest brushed my back. His hot breath stirred the tiny hairs at the back of my neck.

“
I lied,” he whispered in a husky purr into my ear. His fingers slipped beneath the fabric of my shirt and I knew he felt the quiver of my stomach muscles as he touched my skin. His thumbs hooked into the waistband of my bottoms and they were tugged away from my body. One hand slipped under. “I have another present for you.”

“Shit!” I
choked out. My knees dissolved and I slumped into his chest. “Adam…”

His fingers traced the elastic
band of my panties, a teasing sway from hip to hip as he smirked into the side of my face. I almost combusted on the spot when he tugged on the band.

“
The shirt goes with the tie … and only the tie.”

Adam

Anticipation was a red hot flag inside me, snapping in the strong current of my impatience. I wanted Kia. I wanted to have her. But time and my family stood in my way.

The day unfolded as most Christmas days did. We went through the routine of sitting and watching the Christmas parade on TV, having lunch and more TV.
It was one of the rare lazy days we were allowed. The rest of the year, we were shoved into sports and school and any other sort of activity our parents could think of to keep us occupied. Usually I cherished that single day, but not this time. I wanted it to end. I wanted everyone to leave so I could finally see Kia in her gift to me. I wanted to see her in my dress shirt and the tie and nothing else. If the universe was trying to teach me patience, it was doing a good job.

“I should check on dinner,”
Mom said, getting out of her chair and padding to the kitchen. A moment later, the oven door gave a whine as it was yanked open. The hot plume of pent up air rushed out, adding to the already lingering scent of maple ham, carrots and potatoes, and nail polish.

“Mm, that smells delicious
.” Dad said, smelling the air. “Do you need some help, honey?”

“No, it’s nearly finished. Would you girls like to help put together the salad
and mash the potatoes?”

Kia rose instantly. “Sure.”

Nessie, one foot propped on the coffee table, replied, “Nails are wet.” She gestured with the little brush colored in blue. I pondered the wisdom of reminding her she’d done her nails only the day before.

“I’ll help.” Kia hurried over.

I waited a heartbeat before getting to my feet. “I can,” I said, moving to join Kia by the island.

“Thank you, Adam.” Mom said, smiling kindly. “You
get the mashed potatoes. Kia, if you could cut up the lettuce and prepare the salad.”

With a nod, Kia took the bowl already piled with freshly scrubbed vegetables and skirted around me to stand on the other side of the island. She never glanced
up, not even when I took my bowl of boiled potatoes to stand next to her. I could have sworn she edged away from me.

“I’ll help, Mrs. C.”
Kenny stuffed his phone into the back pocket of his skinny jeans and ambled over.

“Thank you,
Kenny.” Mom slid a knife and cutting block over to him. “I could use some help with making the stuffing if you’re up for it.”

Kenny
rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and took the knife. Mom passed him a bowl of vegetables and he brought everything to stand between me and Kia. I wanted to hit him with the potato masher.

We worked quietly chopping and mashing. Not once did Kia look up from the task of creating the salad.
Kenny tried making conversation by commenting on her cutting skills and how good she looked wielding a sharp blade, but she snorted and kept working. I wondered about her silence and about the anxious nibbling she was doing on her bottom lip. I worried I’d gone too far in the bedroom and if I needed to apologize. I hadn’t meant to upset her, or worse, scare her.

Thoroughly weighed down by the new set of
apprehensions, I fell into my own set of uncertainties. I knew Kenny would be no help. He would likely tell me girls liked assertive men. But unlike him, I knew there was a line between assertive and asshole.

Potatoes properly mashed with just the right amount of lumps, I slid the bowl over to Mom who stood
sautéing mushrooms.

“Can you add some milk and butter, please?” she said without looking up from the wok.

I moved around the kitchen to the fridge and yanked open the door. As I rummaged inside, I heard Kia say something.

“
Just stick it in the fridge for now. Thank you, sweetie,” Mom replied.

Milk and butter in hand, I pulled out to find Kia standing behind me, a
saran wrapped bowl in her hand. She was picking at the sides, smoothing the crinkles until the top was as tight as a drum, which was completely unnecessary since we’d be eating within the hour.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled, head still bent.

I frowned, but stepped aside, holding the door open while she found a spot for the salad. She balanced it on a carton of eggs and retreated back to her side of the counter, keeping Kenny between us.

“Is there anything else?” she asked Mom.

“I wouldn’t say no to mixing the batter for the meringue pie.”

And on it went, the three of us clustered around the island helping
Mom while Nessie watched hockey on TV with Dad. Kenny and I talked for a bit and Kenny talked to Kia and Kia talked to my mom, but a conversation never passed between her and me. It only further prickled my certainty that she was upset with me.

“Kia.” I managed to corner her, taking a light hold of her elbow to keep her from bolting as she had gotten to doing every time I got too close. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled to her feet.

Right, like I believed that.

“Is it because of what I did earlier? I’m sorry if I went too far.”

I knew I’d hit the mark when something shifted across her face. Her throat moved as she swallowed and she looked as though she were in pain.
Damn it.

“Baby—”

She put her hand over mine and gently removed my fingers from her arm. “Can we talk about it later?”

No!
I wanted to shout. I wanted to talk about it right then and there. I didn’t want to spend the next six hours worrying and wondering if I’d ruined everything between us.

“Okay,” I murmured, and kept quiet as she slipped past me.

The dramatic voice of
Ivan Bunin
felt hollow repeating in the vast emptiness of my mind as I sat trying to read the same paragraph over again. But it was becoming tediously impossible to focus when my gaze kept shifting to the clock, watching as the hands made a gap between one day and the next. It also gouged a hole in my patience, expanding it until I was sure I’d trip and fall into it.

What was taking her so long? It was nearly midnight.

I closed my book and tossed it onto the coffee table. It slid across the glass and hit the centerpiece. I exhaled, dropping back against the cushions. I closed my eyes and willed my desperation not to get the better of me.

I must have dozed
because the room was dark, the Christmas lights turned off and I was covered in the afghan usually draped over the back of the sofa. I pushed the thing off my legs and sat up. A fine sliver of light poked out over the horizon, announcing the new day and my gaze jumped to the clock. I cursed.

Throwing the blanket completely off, I leapt to my feet.
Another curse left me when I spotted my shirt and the tie laid neatly across the armrest. I rubbed a hand over my face and back into my hair.

“Morning.”

I won’t lie, I nearly squeaked like a little girl, but somehow managed to mask it behind a cough as I spun around to face the figure curled up on the other sofa.

Kia squinted
sleepily at me as I stared at her, a mixture of surprise and relief playing up inside me. It took a lot of restraint to keep from scooping her up into my arms.

“Hey,” I managed for lack of anything better.
“You slept down here?”

Sitting up, she shrugged, yawning widely behind her hand. “I was waiting for you to wake up. I guess I fell asleep, too.”

She pushed back the blanket draped over her legs and a book tumbled out of the folds. It hit the floor with a muffled thud. Sighing, she reached down and scooped it up.

“Kia, what happened yesterday?” I couldn’t wait anymore. I had to know.

She took her time getting to her feet, setting the book on the coffee table next to mine and shaking out her blanket. I knew avoidance when I witnessed it, but I wasn’t giving up.

“
Did I hurt you, or—”

“No!” She shook her head as she hurriedly folded the knitted throw
and dropped it down on the armrest. “I just…” She shook her head again.

“What?” I moved around the divider separating us and lightly took her shoulders.

She stared at my chest when she answered. “I’m not ready … for
that.
I mean, I want to, but I don’t … God, I make no sense.”

“Why didn’t you just
say so,
nena
? I would never push you.”

“I know!” With a frustrated growl, she dropped her face into her hands and mashed her eyelids with the heels.
“I know, but I led you on and I’m sorry. I should have stopped you and told you sooner. It’s just…” She exhaled loudly. “I really liked what you were doing. A part of me didn’t want to stop you. But you’re the first boy I’ve ever liked and everything is so new and intense. Plus the whole thing with Nessie…”

I squeezed her shoulders lightly when she trailed off.

“And you don’t think I would understand if you just told me?”

She rocked her head slowly from side to side. “
I knew you would, but I guess I was a little afraid you would think I was a tease or something.”

I pulled her i
nto my arms and held her to me while peppering her cheek and jaw with kisses. “As much as I want to, I can wait. I’m not in any kind of hurry. It’s not like there’s an expiration date on us being together.”

I knew I’d said the right
thing when the tension melted off her. She exhaled and leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder as I stroked her back. The spicy scent of cinnamon and vanilla swirled around us, mingling with the sweet fragrance of strawberries that seemed to cling to her. I closed my eyes and breathed her in.

“Adam,” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

She pulled back just enough so I could peer into her brown eyes. “
We should get back to our rooms. Someone will be down soon and…”

I shook my head. “Christmas is over.”

She frowned. “What?”

“I told you I was only waiting until Christmas to
talk to Van. Well, it’s done.”

I
felt the tempo of her heart accelerating against mine. Her eyes widened, hope and excitement shining behind them.

“You mean…?”

I nodded. “I think it’s time I had a talk with my sister about the meaning of sharing.”