Billie Bossa Nova

51.

It rained that night. With the drops pelting on the sliding door, Kai listened to the outside world with Billie against him. Every now and then he would stroke her hair, gazing thoughtfully into the darkness as he replayed today's events in his head.

Nothing stuck like the moment that the woman he would give his life to merely mentioned leaving. There was this acidic, burning clench in his chest that would have dropped him to his knees if he wasn't leaning on the kitchen island at that moment. It was then that a thought crossed him, this morbid idea that he should just say fuck it and kneel for her hand in marriage.

He was millisecond close to. It was by whatsoever's grace that she said that she wanted to sleep, she didn't like arguing, she'd said. He didn't believe they were. It was a simple negotiation, one that went on too long and needed to be settled. Billie liked her independence, it was an admirable trait, however, it was one that served him a disadvantage.

Kai's phone buzzed on under his pillow, making him reach to pull it out. A FaceTime from Julianna. With a groan, he eased Billie from his chest and got out of bed before accepting the call on his way to the bathroom.

"¡Ay, dios mio! Que feo," Julianna grimaced. She was in her bathroom, looking like she'd just come from a party or event of some sort as she began the routine of wiping off her makeup and applying some sleeping mask. She still had on a royal blue dress that threatened up her thighs and held her body better than any man could.

Kai shook his head, unamused at her remark regarding how indecent he was to look at. "You're sunburnt and sweating," he replied. "I'm certain I look far more decent." She muttered something in Italian, making Kai answer, "You can't insult me if I don't understand it."

"I'm tan and sheen, there's a difference." Kai raised an eyebrow, Julianna scowled. "Vete al demonio." Go to hell.

"You called to insult me?"

Julianna rolled her eyes. "I called to check in. The insults were provoked by your impressively horrific appearance."

"Yo tambien, te amo."

"Tarado," she muttered, calling him a dumbass before continuing, "I also wanted to know if you're coming tomorrow night. Well..." She looked at the diamond watch around her wrist, most likely noting that the time was now one AM. "Tonight."

"No."

"Y por què?" she asked why.

"Porque no."

She grumbled at the curt reply. Squeezed drops of some syrum on her cheeks, forehead and chin. She was looking at the mirror while massaging the product across her face when she next spoke. "Pappi told me to make sure you came."

"That's exactly why I won't be coming."

"Can't you just put this little fight with him aside and come to your own mother's birthday celebration?" She opened a moisturizer and dapped some on her face using her index finger.

"She's dead, Julianna. What are we celebrating?"

Julianna sighed. She went silent, packing away her beauty products and stashing them away. "Why do you always have to be so difficult, Kai? It's not easy for me to go there, neither, you know? I have to do it alone while you get to hide away-"

"I'm not hiding." And this was one of the rare occasions where Kai did something as disrespectful as interrupt someone while they're speaking. He leaned back against the bathroom counter, free hand running through his hair. Billie crossed his mind, barely with his permission, making him contemplate confiding in his sister. "Julie..."