Banter, Irritation, Sparks .
1053 Words
Amelia did not stop talking.
It was not possible.
Kaiden realized this about ten minutes into her uninterrupted stream of words, facts, questions, half memories, exaggerated stories, and dramatic pauses that did not actually pause anything. She talked with her hands, with her shoulders, with her whole body. Even when she sat still, which was rare, her energy filled the room like sound you could not mute.
“You know,” she said, swinging her legs slightly where she sat, heels dangling off her toes, “I was doing math in my head.”
“That sounds dangerous,” Kaiden replied without looking up.
She gasped. “Excuse you. I am a designer. I can do math when it matters.”
“I’m sure.”
She leaned forward. “You’re three years older than Lucas.”
“Yes.”
“And Lucas is five years older than me,” she continued thoughtfully. “Which means you are ancient.”
He finally looked at her. “I am not ancient.”
“You were old even when we were kids,” she said proudly. “You used to scold us.”
“I did not scold,” he said. “I warned.”
“You frowned,” she insisted. “A lot. Honestly, I thought your face would get stuck like that.”
Her eyes flicked to his face, studying it openly, unashamedly.
“Still hasn’t,” she added. “Unfortunate.”
“I am sitting right here,” he said dryly.
“I know,” she said. “I like talking to people while they’re present.”
He shook his head, irritation threading through his chest. He had dealt with powerful investors, reckless executives, hostile takeovers. None of them were as exhausting as this woman in heels.
She clapped her hands suddenly. “I want a drink.”
“No,” Kaiden said immediately.
She blinked. “No?”
“You’ve had enough.”
Her mouth fell open. “You cannot tell me no.”
“I just did.”
“I am celebrating,” she said slowly, as if explaining something sacred. “I won Designer of the Year.”
“I’m aware.”
“I need alcohol to process that.”
“You need water.”
She stared at him, disbelief turning into offense, offense turning into drama.
“You are ruining my night,” she declared loudly.
“Lower your voice.”
“No,” she repeated, mimicking him with a grin.
She stood abruptly, wobbling, then steadied herself by gripping the back of the couch.
“I will order my own drink,” she said, pointing toward the door.
Kaiden was on his feet immediately.
“No.”
She folded her arms. “You’re not my brother.”
“No,” he agreed. “But I am responsible for you right now.”
“I did not agree to that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
She glared at him. He stared back.
Then, dramatically, Amelia sat down hard on the couch and pouted.
Actually pouted.
He closed his eyes briefly.
“This is childish.”
“I am a child at heart,” she said. “And the child wants wine.”
“You are not drinking more.”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “You know what Lucas would say?”
Kaiden opened his eyes.
“He would say,” she continued, smiling sweetly, “‘Kaidens, just let her drink. She’s impossible when she’s stubborn.’”
Silence.
Kaiden exhaled slowly.
“Fine,” he said. “One.”
Her face lit up like she had just won another award.
“You love me,” she said.
“I tolerate you.”
She waved toward the door. “Wine.”
A few minutes later, a glass appeared in her hand.
She sipped it triumphantly.
Then she leaned over and poured some into Kaiden’s untouched glass.
He frowned. “What are you doing.”
“Sharing.”
“I don’t drink.”
“You do now,” she said cheerfully. “To celebrate me.”
He did not touch it.
She watched him for a moment, eyes narrowing.
“You’re no fun,” she said. “You were no fun then and you’re still no fun now.”
“I’m fine with that.”
She leaned closer again. “Do you know what you said to Lucas the year you left?”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t remember.”
“You said,” she continued, “‘I don’t belong here.’”
He looked away.
She tilted her head. “Why did you run away to France.”
“I didn’t run.”
“You vanished,” she insisted. “No goodbye. No explanation. Lucas was upset.”
He said nothing.
She kept talking anyway.
“So anyway, Zara says love is all about shared chaos,” she rambled. “She’s wrong about a lot of things but she’s right about vibes.”
Kaiden finally lifted his glass.
“Stop talking,” he said, and took a drink.
Her eyes widened. “You drank.”
“I regret it already.”
She grinned and refilled his glass.
At some point, he stopped refusing.
At some point, the irritation blurred into something warmer, looser.
The room felt hotter.
Amelia stood and started swaying to music only she could hear.
“Dance with me,” she demanded.
“No.”
She danced anyway.
She spun, nearly tripping, laughing loudly, hair flying, dress catching the light. Kaiden watched her despite himself, something unfamiliar tugging at his chest.
This is a mess, he thought.
She is a mess.
And he had allowed it.
His head began to throb.
“I need water,” he muttered.
Instead, he asked for apple juice.
When it arrived, he drank it in one long gulp, hoping it would clear his head.
It didn’t.
The heat intensified. Too fast. Too sharp.
His vision blurred slightly.
“What the hell,” he murmured.
Amelia reached for the glass, took a sip before he could stop her.
“No,” he said too late.
She laughed. “Relax.”
His phone felt suddenly heavy in his pocket. When he reached for it, it wasn’t there.
His control slipped, just a fraction.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
- Writer
