Page 20 of Don't Date Your Ex Best Friend
He didn’t reply, and I quickly changed out of the dress into my pajamas.As soon as Anya saw me in his hoodie, she narrowed her eyes at me and kept her hands on her hips.This look was her special mom look, which was only meant for Andrew.Not for me.But I snuggled up to her and wrapped my arms around her and told her that his flight is late.She patted my hair and told me to sit with Andrew on the couch.
We all ate our dinner together, and I helped Andrew with his homework while Anya read through one of her case files.I finished reading a fantasy novel and started braiding Anya’s silky black hair.
She groaned, dropping the case file, “I swear to God, your hands have magic in them.Keep going.”
I snickered and continued doing thechampion her hair without any hair oil, relaxing her.Andrew saw us and demanded it too, so his mom massaged his scalp while I did hers.
Another memory flashed in my brain.My mom applying hair oil on my hair, doingchampiwith her soft hands and me doing the same to Ethan’s hair.
Closing my eyes, I tried to shake off the shivering feeling and excused myself to my room, sliding under the covers.Someone knocked on the front door and I heard muffled voices, but I ignored them.Why was my brain still not over him?I guess it had to do with spending most of my life with him.
“Kiara, your boyfriend’s here,” Anya knocked and opened the door, keeping her hand on her hip and glaring at Jake when he kept his suitcase down and came to me, hugging me in his arms.
“Fiancé, Anya,” he corrected her.
I smiled and nuzzled my face in his sweater.I heard the door close, leaving us in our own bubble as I breathed in his musky cologne.This was what I needed right now.Him.His hands tightened before he moved back, kissing me on my lips.I melted in his arms, cupping his face, his lips soft on mine.
“I missed you,” I whispered and pulled away to look at him.
His wavy onyx hair was tousled, blue eyes bright and shining, little stubble peppering his sharp jaw and cheekbones.A wide grin tugged his lips.“So did I,” he kissed me again, “I brought something for you.”
“You did?”
He nodded and pulled away to show me a box.I started drooling at the scent of cocoa in the air when he opened it and wriggled his eyebrows at me.
“Ta-da!”He exclaimed, bringing the chocolate cake closer to me.
“You’re the best fiancé ever!”I said and grabbed the cake box, digging in the chocolate goodness with a spoon he offered me.
He told me he bought one for Anya and Andrew as well.We both ate it together, sharing it and feeding it to each other while he talked about his New York Fashion Show.When we had first met, I had told him he might be a pornstar because he looked famous.He had laughed at me and told me he was a model, and then it had clicked.The man who had saved me from a fall at a gas station was none other thantheJake O’Neal.
“Babe, what are your plans for next week?”Jake asked, his arms on my waist as we cuddled on the bed.
I shrugged, “The usual work stuff.Why do you ask?”
“Did you talk to your agent about your second book?”he said, his hand running through my hair.
I shook my head.After finishing university, I had published my debut novel and within the first three months, it had sold over a million copies all over the world.Even though I was glad to have writing as my job, I moved back to San Diego to teach full time.
“Later.I will talk to her later.”I promised and trailed my hand on his sweater, feeling his heartbeat.
Jake faced me, his sharp, handsome face glowing in the dim light of the lamp.“I need to ask you about something.”
I waited, wanting him to continue.
“There is this fashion event next week,” he started but paused when he saw I was about to deny him.“Babe, just listen.It is a fashion event but also a fundraiser for children who have cancer.I am invited, and I wanted you to be my date for the event.”
I wondered about it for a moment.I would definitely go for the fundraiser, but going with Jake also meant that the media would finally know about our engagement.As Jake was one of the best models in the fashion industry, we had decided to not let the media know about our engagement.I didn’t mind it because it meant less attention on the both of us since he proposed to me on my twenty-fifth birthday.
“Are you ready to let ...”I didn’t need to finish the sentence.
He kissed my knuckles.“Yes, Kiara, I am.I want the entire world to know that I am getting married to one of the most brilliant women I know.”
Shaking my head with a grin, I kissed him.“Fine, I will go with you.But you better feed me chocolate cake after the event.”
He winked.“You know I will.”
I admired his handsome face and blurted, “Jake ...do you, do you want children after marriage?”
