Kaden
Box Hill should be a no-go area for me. The most traumatic event of my life happened there. Strangely, it is one of the few places I go to when I feel myself spiraling. Walking around my old neighborhood, I feel the constant buzz beneath my skin calm after an hour of aimless wandering. Settled now, I decide to head back to my car, so I stop at the small supermarket on Saxton to buy some water. It's been a while so I'm trying to figure out the layout of the store when I see a flash of red hair at the other end of the aisle.
Okay, Kade, you know the drill. Stand still and see if it happens again. Check the time (a quick glance at my watch shows it's a few minutes to six), repeat what you know.
I am in the process of telling myself I came to the store alone, when I see a flash of red hair again. My body takes the decision before I can process it, and I find myself walking towards that section of the store.
I've barely taken a step into the aisle when all the air leaves my stomach. Winded, I look down to see fire-red hair again and I freeze.
There's no way it's her. Damnit Kade, you're really stressed. Now, you're hallucinating about a woman all the way from Germany in your old neighborhood.
I am about to hastily remove myself from this new torture when a soft voice says, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry," I bend down a bit to see her face because this is definitely a new low for me, I'm now experiencing auditory hallucinations when pain bursts across my jaw at the same time a basket drops on my foot.
"Oh God, I am really sorry. Are you hurt? I can…"
Fearing for my safety now, I impulsively place my hands on the walking hazard and ask her to stop. She doesn't listen, however, and lifts up a trembling hand which I catch before more damage is done.
Gosh her hand is so soft…
"K..Kaden?"
"Sera."
Today is turning out to be either a new low in my life, or one of the best days ever.
Stepping back, I look at the adorably disheveled woman in front of me. I blink a few times to make sure she is still there. After the third time, my vixen is beginning to look concerned for me.
"Kaden, are you okay?"
Snapping back into focus, I shake myself mentally and answer her, "Yes, I am. How are you here, Sera?"
Sera
Yep. It's really Kaden. The one man I both wanted and did not want to see. Thanks a bunch, Universe.
His initial surprise has faded, and boy, he does not look happy to see me.
What did you expect, girl? You snuck out of his room early and left. Without a trace. Oh, and you took some cash to pay for your taxi back home.
I wince, remembering that tiny detail. Falling back on old habits, I try to inject some humor into this awkward situation.
"You mean, here as in this very store? Well, I don't know about uber rich tech bros like you, but some of us have to shop if we want to eat…" My Greek god is not amused, so I slam my mouth shut and try to fiddle with my hair, only to realize he is still holding my hand, and we are standing way closer than we should be standing.
"Are you done shopping?"
The abrupt change in topic catches me off guard, and I hesitantly stammer out a Yes.
Before I know it, the basket is gently freed from my grasp and Kaden is striding over to the cashier. Adding a bottle of water, and some chocolate bars, he is quick to pay, and I can only mutter a thank you. He strides out the door without responding and I have to run a bit to catch up. I almost slam into him when he stops suddenly and asks, "Your house?"
"It's just a few minutes from here. Don't worry, I can take these. It's not far at all." Ineffective tugging of the bag from steel-like hands and a dead-pan expression tell me yes, I am not dreaming, and Kaden is coming to my flat. Panicked now, I mentally go through my apartment. I'm glad I just moved in, so it's not dirty. A few silent minutes of walking with a human shadow, and we get there. Still silent, Kaden waits patiently as I open the door to my ground floor flat and step in.
As I look around, I wonder what he'll think of my one bedroom flat, my shabby couch, and the little trinkets and flowers I placed around the room to give it a homely feel. I am placing the bag on the entry way table when he says softly, " Did I hurt you?"
Uncomprehending, I stare at him. "What?"
"I was wondering if I hurt you, that's why you left without a word." His gaze is on mine unflinchingly and I finally grasp his meaning.
"What? No!" Eager to make him understand, I almost trip in my haste to reach him and without thinking, reach for his hands.
"No, no, no. Kaden you didn't do a thing I didn't want you to do."
A deep breath, then "Why did you leave like that?"
Struggling to put how out of my league he is into words, I simply say, "Because I thought that's what you would have wanted." His expression is purely disbelief now, so the words just tumble out.
"I figured it was a one-night stand, and you are so out of my league I wasn't sure…"
Warm lips cut off my rambling and my brain screeches to a halt.
Okay. He is kissing me. What does this mean? Another one night stand? Or something else?
"Does this look like I wanted it to be a one-time thing?"
Still bemused, I stare at him, trying to catch the rolling thoughts in my head. I open my mouth to ask him what exactly he wants, when his phone rings.
The next few seconds pass in a whirlwind of a terse phone call, another soft kiss on my forehead, then Kaden is out the door, and I'm left alone, reeling from the suddenness of it all.