Love Me Sweet - SEQUEL (A Kaimelia - Kai Bartley/Amelia Shepherd - fanfiction)

Part 5

AMELIA

Thank god for brain tumors. Even though I'm in Minnesota mostly for the research and surgeries and work involving all that, I'm also a consultant for any other cases and my lord, this is a beauty. I was given the scans and the opportunity to scrub in tomorrow. Or more like asked to scrub in because it's a complicated placement and the extraction will be brutal. All the more fun to it.

I've been through all the test results and scans about four times already, all the papers spread out in front of me on the living room floor. Fiddle already stole one folder, but gave it back unharmed after I bribed him with peanut butter. At least Scout has been back in daycare for a few days now so I can focus on work. But enough is enough and if I want to keep my eyesight, I should take a break.

And so I get up, checking the time for a second before deciding that it's a bit early for dinner. Even though me cooking dinner really means scrolling through an app and deciding on something there. I decide to make myself useful elsewhere and walk up to the record player that Kai obviously has.

I pick something blindly from the collection of vinyls from artists I've barely heard of. But they have great taste so it's bound to be good. Smooth blues tones fill the living room and I adjust the sound so it won't bother Scout. Although he's used to sleeping in a house full of girls so he should be fine.

I head to bedroom, grabbing the hamper and pick up the few pieces of clothing that got tossed around the room last night when we were in a hurry to get naked. Humming along to the music, I carry the laundry to the washing machine, moving my hips to the rhythm while absentmindedly patting down the pockets. I have a terrible habit of leaving money stuffed in my jeans and now the action is involuntary almost.

Kai is usually better at emptying out their pockets which is why I'm surprised to feel something hard in one of them. I go fish it out and stop dead in my tracks when I realize what I'm holding. "Oh, not again," I tell the empty room, dropping the pants to the floor and looking the ring at every side.

But we've talked about this! They know this isn't what I want and I thought they didn't either? Confusion fills me as I contemplate what to do with the ring. I mean, this is odd. Just a ring in their pocket, not hidden or even in a box. I'd really like to pretend that I didn't see it, but I know myself and even more - Kai knows me. They'll sense that something is off from a mile away so I have no option really.

I walk over to the kitchen counter, placing the diamond ring down on it before giving it one final look. Admittedly, it's a beautiful ring. But everything it symbolizes is just.. not. With a sigh, I try to get back into laundry, my mind now wandering around instead.

--

Waiting for them to get home has been torture, but now that I hear a key in the door, I suddenly wish I had more time to prepare for the painful conversation we're about to have. Still, I turn to look at Kai with a smile once they walk in. Fiddle is of course first to get all the attention, but I don't mind.

"Hey!" I get the second greeting and try my hardest to make my smile seem sincere instead of apprehensive. "You didn't eat yet?" Kai adds then, looking around. I pray silently that they don't see the ring straight away. Luckily they seem not to notice so I have what.. a minute left to prepare for the inevitable?

I realize then that I did in fact forget to order food. I guess I lost my appetite for obvious reasons. "Uh, no. I didn't really know what to get and then I was so consumed with the tumor and.." I make up some random excuse that seems to work for now.

Kai comes over and leans closer, giving me a soft kiss. "That's alright, I could also make something if you'd like," they offer and I just smile awkwardly in response. "Also, you need to show me that exciting tumor. You've been talking it up all day."

I look at the folders that I've gathered up onto the coffee table and hesitate for a second. I could win at least ten more minutes if I did that now. But I'd just end up being more nervous. From the corner of my eye I notice Kai walking towards the kitchen and my nerves spike up again.

"I don't want to get married," I blurt out then, cussing myself internally for the eloquent delivery. Not like I haven't been thinking of how to phrase this for the past hour or anything..

Kai looks very surprised, stopping mid-step and turning to face me again. "Uhh.. I know?" they say in answer, voicing it almost as a question. One that I don't know the answer for. Honestly, they seem so confused that it makes me second guess everything for a moment. Or maybe they're just pretending.

I get up, walking towards the counter then and grabbing the ring that they somehow still haven't noticed. "Then what's up with this?" I ask quietly, holding it up and then reaching my hand out to give it to Kai. Somehow even holding onto it feels wrong in this moment.

Something seems to click now because Kai's whole stance changes and they now seem.. nervous? "That was Ashley's. She gave it back to me a few days ago," they say then, holding out a hand and allowing the ring to drop into their open palm.

I honestly don't know what to say to that. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I mean.. Why should it have? Why would she still have the ring? And even more, why would she give it back? And why would Kai hide it? Although a pocket really isn't the best hiding spot.

"I.." I stutter, looking down at my hands and trying to think which of those questions in my head needs an answer the most. "Why did she still have it?" I finally voice one of my thoughts, looking up at Kai again. They still look nervous.

"I don't know. I was surprised too. Maybe because it has a diamond from my mother's ring so she didn't want to sell it or toss it for sentimental reasons.. I didn't ask," they shrug their shoulders and my eyes drop back to their palm. But I can't see the ring anymore, because their hand is closed around it.

"That does sound important, yes," I say, not even knowing what I mean by that. Or maybe I do, but I just don't want to admit it to myself. "Sorry for.. overreacting. Bad experiences, I guess," I try to twist it into a joke, chuckling dryly.

Kai doesn't join in, instead tilting their head to one side, trying to catch my averting gaze. "It's okay. I'm sorry I forgot it was there and didn't tell you," they respond and I just nod quickly, wanting the topic to be over with.

"So, how about indian for dinner? I've been kind of craving dal." I don't bother waiting for an answer, walking back to the couch instead to grab my phone and scroll through the takeout menus.