Chapter 8
1061 Words
***Kai
My plan was failing—badly. How do you get a woman you're in love with to fall for you? Am I supposed to do something else?
Is there something I'm doing wrong? My phone rang the moment I got out of the elevator, heading down to the poolside. It didn't take a genius to know it was my best friend, Rhys.
“What?” I said into the phone.
“Is my princess being an arrogant snob now? Chill. I just wanted to know if you're having some fun. Eating some chicks out.”
“I'm busy.”
“That is the whole point of this vacation. You were going to rest, and I was going to call to annoy you.”
“I have work to do, but I'll go relax soon anyway. I need it.” I spotted Kim with Dylanne. They were both holding hands while Kim made a silent prayer close to the pool. Dylanne giggled, her smile soft enough to make my heart skip.
“Okay… now there's silence. What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“That's a lie. I know when something's wrong. You know, every day you're annoying, but when you have something on your mind, you become a raging dog instead.”
I rolled my eyes. Typical Rhys. We'd been friends since I'd just gotten out of college. He'd been my tattoo artist back then until he decided to focus on the ‘family’ business.
I stood under the shade, watching people move around, in and out of the water. Bodies rubbing up on each other. Women giving me the side-eye, but mine stayed on a certain ebony. I usually don't ask this, but—
“How do you make a woman like you?”
“What?” he spat.
“How do you make a woman like you? Are you deaf now?”
“You like someone?” He chuckled, and I was dead sure he was having fun at my expense.
“Just answer.” I moved into the shade to relax on an available seat.
“Do you want to date her, or…?”
I'd never told Rhys about Dylanne and me. In fact, I'd never told anyone. I don't think she wants anyone to have any idea, really. What had happened was just…it was something spontaneous, but my feelings haven't changed about her.
“I want to date her. But she's not… I don't think she likes me much.”
“Well, have you asked her if she likes you?”
“How do you do it? Do you just walk up to her and ask?”
“You clearly have no idea, huh? Well, you can approach her with some flowers. Flowers work perfectly for me.”
I smiled lazily. “How’s it working with the chick you like?”
“Terribly. I don’t think she likes flowers much. I always send big ones, but she just refuses to go on a date.”
“She doesn’t like you. That explains it.”
“Whatever. This is about you, not me. Try some flowers. If this girl you like loves roses, you can get some. Or maybe some drinks.”
Dylanne doesn’t like roses. She’s always said they’re too basic. Like, why would she want a rose when she is a rose?
I looked back at whatever she and Kim were doing. This time, she was sitting with her legs stuck into the water while she kicked her feet. Kim kept talking to her, but her eyes were focused on the water. I could see the way she kept looking into it like it was poisoned. Her face held a forced smile, but I could tell she was a little irritated and… anxious?
She had no idea I kept staring. Watching how, somehow, whatever Kim was telling her calmed her down. She started talking, lips in sync. They were full, painted with pink gloss. God, I wanted to kiss them so bad.
“She there with you?” Rhys’s voice came through the phone, snapping me back to reality.
“What?”
“Is your girl there with you? I thought the trip was just you, Kim, and Dyl—”
“Yeah, no. She’s not here. It’s someone else.”
“Oh, okay. So we agreed on some flowers, and maybe a small date at the poolside if she was there. If she loves cocktails, you could also serve her that.”
“Yeah, I’ll try that. Flowers… definitely.”
“Don’t mess this up. You’ve got to give her some time to process things, and if she says she doesn’t want any romantic relationship between you both, you still have to give her the flowers. Don’t f**k her, Kai.”
“How dare you insult me?”
He laughed. “Because you’ve never actually liked someone enough to ask me this question. And I know you.”
“Whatever. Good advice.”
“No thank you?” He feigned sadness.
“Oh please, get off my phone, you p***y. Use your own advice.”
I cut the call, not waiting for what else he had to say. Rhys was a talker but a good man. I enjoyed his company, and while people knew I talked less and he talked more, we had a solid friendship.
I stood up, ready to round the pool and meet up with Kim, when I bumped into someone. A brunette about 5’11” was holding out sunscreen to me.
“I’m sorry. My friends and I spotted you from over there, and I think you have large hands too…” Her voice trailed off, rambling.
“What?”
A red hue crept up her cheeks. “I mean, you have large hands. I don’t mean that sexually. I just mean I need your hands to help rub my skin. Damn, this was harder than I thought it would be. What I’m trying to say is, I need your help applying sunscreen to my back.”
“If it wouldn’t be any trouble,” she finished.
I’ll just get this done and meet up with them. I took the sunscreen from her hand while she lay down on the sunbed. I applied some cream to my hand and helped her rub it on her back as fast as I could.
- Writer
