FOOLS AND GENIUSES | ✓

CHAPTER 37

Chris and Kate goofing around above.

retrouvailles

(n.) the joy that fills your heart from meeting someone after a very long time

Standing to give the girls a good look at the full outfit as they squinted at the screen on their FaceTime call, Kiara spun around and watched the layers of ruffles on her high-low hem sway. Her conversation with Chris had sparked a twinge of regret in her heart, leading her to make a spur of the moment decision to just call them and profusely apologise. The girls, of course, immediately shut down her guilt-ridden crusade, choosing to focus on the future than dwell on the past. Everything felt right in the world again and before she knew it, they were gossiping and spilling dirty secrets to one another. They showered her with compliments, admiring the fitted pastel yellow bodice with loose flared sleeves that easily flowed into the A-line skirt.

Holding up a pair of rose gold drop earrings and a pair of silver decor earrings, she raised a brow, "Alright girls, crunch time. Which one?"

Alia softly chirped, "Rose gold," just as Miya and Diana both interjected; "Silver!"

"Majority wins," Kiara laughed at their gloating as she carefully fitted the earrings on.

Deciding to keep things simple, Kiara settled on a dewy light makeup look and paired the outfit with silver sandals, immersed in light conversation with the girls as she got ready. They gave her their seals of approval for the final look and hung up with parting words of wisdom as she blew them kisses and hung up, rushing down to meet Chris before he kicked up a fuss at being late. 

The minute Kiara floated down the stairs towards Chris, his breath caught in his throat as he simply gawked and the stunning woman before him. The bright summer dress flowing around her paired with her hair curled in loose waves that framed her face created made her look like the princess she was as a single thought floated around his head– this was the woman he was going to marry. He shook his head, more scared than disturbed that he felt this way but quickly brushed the thought aside before his self-sabotaging ways destroyed one of the few good things he had in his life.

She raised a brow, smirking slightly, "Has anyone ever told you that it's rude to stare?"

Snapping out of his dazed state, he thanked the gods for his quick wit as he retorted, "Yeah but it's complimentary to admire."

"Touché, hero. Touché."

"Now let's get going before my mom whoops both our asses, trouble."

They scrambled into the car as Kiara hurried to grab the neatly wrapped gift she prepared for Chris' mother. She had asked every one of her friends for recommendations on what to get for his mother before eventually deciding to buy a Yankee Candle boxed Christmas set, considering it was nearly that time of the year. He looked over and studied her, noting the nervous tic of rubbing at her wrist and how she kept chewing her lip. She had maintained an uneasy silence the entire drive over and he could instantly tell that she was overthinking everything. Gently reaching over the console to interlace their fingers, rubbing small circles over the back of her hand as he watch the tension slowly leave her body.

Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed the back of her hand, "Relax."

She curled up in the passenger seat adorably and sighed as she turned to face him, "I'm really trying, bub."