It's All Relative

by S. C. Stephens

  Jessie thanked him and smiled warmly; Kai’s entire body heated at the look on her face. Shaking his head as he took a sip of his wine, he was again amazed at her generosity. It was like thinking of ways to make him happy and comfortable was all she did all day. He didn’t think he actually took up that much space in her brain, but a small portion of him liked to think that he did. He tried to push back that part of him.

  They ate their messy meals comfortably, laughing at the other when someone got a stray piece of sauce somewhere. When Jessie tenderly reached out and rubbed some off his chin, Kai momentarily wished that she had someone to nurture. Someone that she could be with guilt free. Someone worthy of her, much more so than that ass Jeremy. She was so good to Kai…he just knew that she’d be amazing as someone’s girlfriend.

  Kai swallowed a heavy lump in his throat. Eventually that would happen. Girls like Jessie didn’t stay single for long. He had no idea what he’d do, when her attention to him was suddenly diverted to another man. A surprising rush of jealous at this imaginary boyfriend flashed through him. He sort of hated the non-existent man already.

  “You alright?”

  Kai looked up at hearing her concerned voice. Smiling, he shook his head. “Of course.” Pointing to her half-eaten plate, he tried to distract her mind from sussing out his mood. “Is it okay?”

  Jessie glanced at her plate and smiled. “It’s wonderful. I haven’t had spaghetti in forever.” She smiled and tilted her head at him, taking a sip of wine.

  Kai felt a little guilty that he hadn’t made something more…intricate, even the sauce had been from a jar, but she seemed genuine with her answer. “Good…I’m glad.”

  As he went back to eating, she paused with her glass to her lips. Kai looked at her thoughtfully while he chewed his food. She seemed like she wanted to ask him something. He got a little nervous watching her watch him, wondering what she could possible question him on. If she brought up them, and what had happened downstairs…well, he wasn’t sure what he could say about it. Nothing that he should probably say out loud. It was best if Jessie didn’t know just how often he thought of her…dreamt of her.

  Finally, she pulled the glass from her mouth. “Would you like to come to my place tomorrow night? Have dinner with me…and my roommates?” She added that last part after a few seconds pause.

  Kai swallowed his food and smiled. He’d been imaging much harder questions. “Sure, I’d love to see your place.” He thought about that for a second while she smiled. “Would your roommates…? I mean…has it been long enough…? Would they suspect that you and me…?” Kai let his voice trail off, not knowing how to ask her if, once they saw him, would they know that he was the one she’d slept with on that night, one week ago today.

  She flushed and looked down, knowing what he was referring to. “I don’t…I don’t think so.” She looked back up and shrugged. “If I introduce you as my cousin, the thought probably won’t even cross their minds. They’ll just assume that you and I have known each other for years and would never…” She bit her lip, her cheeks filling with a beautiful pink color.

  Nodding, he took a large gulp of wine. It seemed reasonable enough. Who would suspect that as family, they’d never met before that night? That, thanks to nicknames and lots of alcohol, they hadn’t recognized each other. That they’d gone all the way without ever really finding out anything about the other. That they’d had mind-blowing sex, without ever realizing that they shared the same last name.

  No, who would ever be twisted enough to come up with that scenario?

  Chapter 10

  Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

  Kai awoke Saturday morning feeling pretty good. And not just because he was up at what he considered a reasonable hour for a weekend morning. No, while he was glad that he was finally crossing over into the four hour time change, what had a smile plastered on his face as he woke, was the thought of being at Jessie’s place later.

  Standing and stretching, he threw on a t-shirt and shuffled to his kitchen to make some coffee and have a little cereal at his new table. He smiled the entire time he ate at it, enjoying the ease of sitting at the proper height, and the sentiment behind the not-asked-for gift. His cousin was definitely a generous person. As he finished his bowl, he idly wondered if there was anything he could give to her. Some small reciprocal token. Unfortunately, he really didn’t have much yet. Maybe later, when he started getting some decent checks, he’d get her something, or take her out to a nice meal. Nothing too date-like though. Kai wouldn’t want to make either of them uncomfortable.

  Rinsing out his bowl, he decided to do the one thing that he really hadn’t had much time to do this week. He shuffled back to his bed after a quick pit stop to the bathroom and watched a little Sports Center. Smiling, he enjoyed a moment of laziness before he truly began his day.

  His first week had gone by in sort of a blur. Getting to and from his job was a longer commute than he was used to, but the freedom of riding a motorcycle was something that he enjoyed, so he often looked forward to his rides. Although, he could already tell that he was going to have to wear something either over or under his work clothes when he rode. He was just getting too cold. Maybe he’d do a little shopping today.

  The actual “work” part of work was going smoothly. Truly, the work was the easiest thing about his job. Cataloging, studying, analyzing…it was all tasks that he found intriguing. Dealing with the various personalities at the research center, now that was the real challenge.

  Louis seemed to think that he and Kai were best friends now, and while Kai liked the man, he was also being treated to a non-stop rendition of the ‘Tao of Louis.’ He had an opinion on everything, and was none too shy about sharing them. He was also one hundred percent certain that Kai had screwed Missy on that very first day in the backroom. He hadn’t even flinched when he’d told that to Kai. To Louis, it seemed just another fact that was catalogued in his brain. Kai often wondered if Missy was telling people that that was what had happened.

  As for his relationship with her, well, if he were a girl, he would definitely have grounds for sexual harassment. As he was not a girl, and really, what guy would ever formally complain about being hit on every day, he let it continue without raising a fuss. Besides, Kai was sort of hoping that after a while of his seeming disinterest in her advances, she’d stop. So far, she hadn’t stopped. If anything, she’d gotten a little bolder as they got more comfortable with each other. Just yesterday, when she’d been bugging him about the bike, she’d also grabbed his ass.

  He’d, as politely as he could, asked her to not do it again. Kai was pretty sure she would anyway. Really, he wouldn’t be surprised if she cupped his junk. He was seriously hoping that day didn’t happen anytime soon.

  Then there was his boss, Mason. After a full week he’d seemed to warm up some to Kai. He seemed to truly appreciate Kai’s work ethic and ability to multitask. He’d commended him on his analyses and often asked Kai to help him personally with projects that he was working on, most involving those damn bees. Fortunately they hadn’t bothered Kai again.

  But even with all that, Kai got the feeling that the man would prefer it if Kai weren’t around. Like, for some unknowable reason, Kai bothered him. Mason didn’t show it in any of the ways that he spoke to him, but Kai was pretty observant, and noticed the tightness of his eyes, the guarded way he smiled, and the small sigh that would escape his lips whenever Kai entered a room. Yes, Kai wasn’t sure why, but he was positive that his boss didn’t really like him.

  That bothered Kai. He really looked up to Mason. Admired his mind and his goals. What he was doing was important, noble even, and Kai had a great amount of respect for him. He wanted to turn the man around, please him in some way…he just wasn’t sure how. The only thing he could really do was to keep plugging away, keep trying. Maybe over time, whatever Kai had done to Mason would fade away, and they could be close colleagues.

  Kai hoped so.

  Just as he
was feeling better from his mental pep talk, he heard a soft, lyrical ringing. He looked over at his nightstand, to where his cell phone was softly playing a song. Frowning, he picked it up. He’d set the volume of his ringer down on his phone, but he was pretty sure that he’d never changed the ringtone to play, what he was nearly positive was “Endless Love.” Rolling his eyes, he wondered if Missy had somehow messed around with his cell when he hadn’t noticed.

  Glancing at the numbers, he frowned even more. Popping the phone open, he held it to his ear. “Mom? Why are you up so early?”

  His mother’s surprised voice answered him. “Oh, hi, Kai. I wasn’t sure if you’d be up this early on a Saturday. I was just going to leave a message.”

  Kai looked over to the microwave in the kitchen and chuckled. “It’s not that early for me, Mom. It’s after ten. But it is for you, what are you doing up so early?” he asked again, relaxing back against his headboard.

  His mom hesitated. “Oh, I just…had a couple of phone calls to make, and was a little anxious about making them, so I really wasn’t sleeping very well anyway.”

  Kai scrunched his brows at hearing the stress in his mom’s voice. “Everything alright?”

  She hesitated again, and Kai wondered if those short breaks were his mom debating whether or not to tell him something. He had no idea what. “Of course, honey. Don’t you worry about me. How are you doing? How’s work going?”

  He smiled at her often repeated question. She had called him near daily, and one thing she always asked about, was his work. “Since yesterday, Mom? It’s fine.” He chuckled as he answered, amused by her curiosity.

  He heard a sound from her that he could have sworn was a disappointed sigh, but she only said, “That’s good, dear.” Before Kai could ask her again if everything was alright, she said, “Well, I was just calling to let you know that I sent you a care package. You should get it any day.”

  Kai smiled and rubbed his stomach, wondering what she’d sent for him. Amazed at how sweet the women of his family were, he told her, “Thanks, Mom. You didn’t have to do that.”

  She scoffed at him. “I’m your mother, honey. It’s exactly what I have to do.” She laughed softly and Kai chuckled and shook his head.

  “Well, again, thank you.”

  Just as he was hoping she’d sent some of her world famous chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, she asked him about a sort of touchy subject. “So, you meet a girl yet?”

  Kai grit his jaw, hating about the side effect of caring women. If it were up to her and Gran, he’d be halfway down a wedding aisle by now. With everything that was going on with Jessie, which was nothing really, Kai just hadn’t had a moment to think about seeing someone else. It kind of hurt his heart to think about it.

  Playing up his conflicts, he allowed himself to sigh in frustration. “Mom, come on. Between you and Grandma, I swear, you’d think I was a desperate loser who couldn’t get his own dates.”

  His mom paused at his statement. “Millie tries to set you up?”

  He could hear the edge of irritation and concern in her voice and bit his lip. She and his grandmother didn’t exactly get along. There wasn’t really an animosity there on his mom’s side, but there was no love lost in the other direction. For some reason, Kai’s grandma just did not care for Kai’s mother. He’d thought to ask her about it while he was here…but, somehow he could never bring it up around her. Kai could just imagine his mother thinking that Gran would set him up with a girl who could be easily set against her, but Kai didn’t think his grandma would ever intentionally be that vindictive.

  “Don’t worry, Mom. She hasn’t sent any she-devils my way.” His mom gave a soft laugh at his obvious joke and Kai smiled. “Besides, I’m too busy with work right now to worry about that stuff.” Knowing his mom wouldn’t take that as an excuse, her eventually wanting grandchildren and all, he quickly added, “Maybe once I’ve settled in some more, I’ll start…looking.”

  She sighed, clear defeat in her exhale. “Alright, Kai. Don’t work too hard.”

  Kai smiled into his phone, picturing his tired, worried mother. “I won’t, Mom. Love you.”

  “Love you, too Kai. I’ll call again soon.”

  Kai shook his head, knowing “soon” was probably tomorrow. “Alright, go rest. Take a nap or something.” She laughed and assured him that she would then she told him she loved him again and hung up the phone.

  Kai kept up his smile as he snapped shut his cell. Shaking his head at his mother, he thought of his father for a moment. He hadn’t heard from him since he’d arrived here. Thinking it was odd that his dad hadn’t called to check in on him yet, Kai briefly wondered if he should give him a call, to make sure everything was okay. Plus, he never did get a chance to call and tell him about Gran falling. His dad would want to know that his mom had gotten hurt. Glancing at the clock again, he set down his phone. It was too early to call back there. He’d do it later, give his dad time to wake up first.

  Resuming his TV watching, Kai started to get swept away in a hockey game. Then his eyes snapped down to his phone again and swiftly picking it up, he changed back the damn ringtone. Endless Love? Good god.

  Later in the day, after Kai had felt sufficiently grubby and had finally gotten up to take a shower, he called his dad. Surprisingly, the conversation was brief and Kai could swear, almost strained. Kai wasn’t sure why when he hung up the phone; he and his dad had always had a really good relationship. They had similar personalities and common interests. Truly, they got along great. Kai was a little mystified by the detachment he heard on the other end. He’d also been surprised that his dad had already known about Gran hurting herself. He hadn’t known all the specifics, and Kai had filled him in as best he could, but he hadn’t been surprised to hear about it.

  Kai shrugged, figuring Gran had called her son at some point. Still wondering why everyone in his life seemed to be acting a little strangely, Kai got ready for his day. Dressing in thick denims and two long-sleeved shirts, a loose sweater over the top, Kai started to think that it was just the distance that was making everyone odd. His parents were used to seeing him every day. His grandmother was used to not seeing him at all. Surely, they were all just reacting to that strangeness. Kai knew he was.

  Locking up his apartment, he headed down to his bike, to do a little necessities shopping before meeting up with Jessie. He was going to pick up those long johns she suggested, or something similar. And maybe he’d surprised her, by picking up something nice for her while he was out. It was the least he could do, since she was always surprising him with nice things.

  Smiling as he climbed on his bike, he knew just what he could get for her…

  **************

  Jessie was pacing. Nerves flashed through her body as she watched the clock on the living room wall get closer and closer to five o’clock. She had no idea why, but in a moment of weakness, she’d asked Kai to come to dinner. It really wasn’t a good idea, but Jessie knew that eventually her roommates would have to meet him. They were just too integrated in her life for that not to happen. They frequently hung out together or stayed home together. Living with your best friends can feel a bit stifling at times, but the girls were all close. It would just be really odd if Jessie purposely kept her newly-in-town cousin away.

  But…she really wasn’t sure if they would remember him or not, and her stomach was in a jumble just thinking of them discovering what she’d done with him. God, they’d be sick. Jessie put both hands on her stomach as she walked around the spacious room. It still made her feel sick. And she’d had a week to come to terms with the fact. A week and a day actually.

  Her home was filled with the smell of a roast simmering away in her Crockpot. Jessie hadn’t known what to make Kai, but pot-roast had just screamed comfort food to her. If Kai was feeling just a little homesick, and he had to be on some level, then maybe the meal would remind him of being home with his mom. Assuming she had made the same meals for him that Jessie’s mo
m had made for her.

  Jessie wasn’t really sure, since she’d never really heard a lot about Kai’s mom. For some reason, no one in the family really talked about the woman. Apparently, her divorce from Uncle Nate had been a nasty one, although, Kai still seemed to be close to both parents, and his mom and dad still worked together, so some level of respect must still be there. Jessie didn’t want to bring it up with Kai to find out. It felt too…intrusive, to ask.

  Her stomach rumbling, Jessie ran her hands through her hair. She’d spent longer than she cared to admit, taming the curly locks into distinct, defined curls, instead of the wild, out of control mess it could easily fall into sometimes. She hoped Kai liked it; she caught him smiling at her hair sometimes. She sighed, she shouldn’t think that way. This was not a date. This was her cousin coming over for dinner, nothing fancier than that.

  Just as she was about to go and check on the potatoes roasting in the oven, April sauntered into the room. Her long black hair was luxuriously shiny and sighing at her own kinky hair, Jessie wished for straight locks, for just a second. “Hey,” she said brightly as she walked over to a couch and tucked her legs under herself as she sat down. She was wearing a miniskirt with black boots that nearly went to her knees. The skin showing between her knee and the skirt’s hemline was lean and trim, and for a second, Jessie also wished for her friend’s slim figure. Jessie’s curves wouldn’t have pulled off that look nearly as well.