Just One Kiss

Chapter 7

"How does it feel to be home?" Duke asked as he took a a sip of his beer.

"It's warmer in London that's for sure" Daisy replied as she took a sip of her cocktail. China chuckled, listening to the two of them talk.

Daisy was back in the country to visit her parents with China back for the week to attend some meetings and sign the lease of the house with Charles. This had been the first time the three of them had been back together since Daisy moved away the year before. The three of them had been thick as thieves since university, with Daisy becoming an architect and moving to London to pursue her dreams of starting her own company.

"It feels nice finally being back together and talking in person like old times" China said, causing the other two to smile.

"Okay so spill." Duke said turning to China. " how was Indy 500?"

"It was great. Nicolas and I had so much fun and he's so easy to work with." China smiled as she recalled the events of the Indiana trip. She had just finished her trip report after coming back from Indianapolis two weeks prior, completing the final draft with Duke over the phone. She was now getting ready to set off for the next leg of her project: a MotoGP race, which was coming up in the next week.

"How is it working with hunky billionaire?" Daisy asked. China knew this was her golden opportunity to gloat and shock her best friends, but instead, she swallowed her words as she thought of an alternative answer.

"We're both good at what we do and it makes the work that we're doing wonderful", China replied diplomatically. As professional as it sounded, her thoughts were far from it.

She thought back to the inside joke between them which they had not discussed since. They didn't really get a chance to see each other the morning after, both wearing sunglasses with blasting headaches. Other than an awkward exchange between them on the way to their respective cars, they hadn't spoken since the kiss...or kisses.

"And how is it living in the new house" Daisy asked, snapping China out of her thoughts of the elevator she left behind.

"In Madrid or in Cape Town?"

"Both" Duke and Daisy replied in unison.

"It's nice to finally have a lease signed, that's for sure." She recalled the relief she felt as the realtor handed her and Charles the keys to their three bedroom bungalow only the day before, the smiles on the couple's faces unable to leave them as they enjoyed the first day and night in their new home.

"Living together finally seems right. I think things are heading in the right direction for me, but my Madrid apartment might have to be my favourite."

She divulged on the interior of the house, Daisy intrigued by the layout and Duke by the design. Her penthouse city apartment was starting to grow on her the more time she spent in it. The ceiling to floor windows that brought in light into her living room and kitchen were still her favourite part, giving her the time to appreciate the beauty of the Spanish skyline.

Who was she kidding, she loved that apartment the moment she set foot in it.

"I couldn't be happier for you! You're getting everything you ever wanted" Daisy said, giving China's hand a small squeeze. She tried to smile back, but the grin refused to reach her eyes.

China smiled back to them as the conversation moved from her houses to Duke's daughter who had started crawling around the house as she learnt how to walk. China added the odd word to the conversation as she sat back and thought to herself about what Daisy said. She is truly getting everything she wanted, so why is she not satisfied?