Paper Wishes (#1)

Chapter Eighteen: Joking with Jez

 As I had anticipated, Jez was waiting for me when I came in. She was sitting on a stool behind the counter and her body language made it clear she wasn't going to leave until I gave her all the details of my date. I sighed internally because I didn't really feel like rehashing all the drama but I felt that other than Kai, Jez was probably the closest thing I had to a best friend at the moment. I knew I could trust her with everything I said, and that she'd give me honest and on point advice.

Although I had to break away from my story once or twice to help a customer - and made one really great sale - I eventually got to the end, with Jez making thoughtful noises here and there throughout to let me know that she was paying attention.

"Wow," she said, "I always suspected that Kai had feelings for you, but I didn't know they ran so deep."

"Neither did I," I said, "I knew he loved me, but I thought it was strictly as a sister." I sighed. We'd grown up together. We'd bathed together when we were kids. We saw each other go through puberty. How could he have been attracted to me on any level? Puberty sucked. I felt like facepalming myself every time I thought about how awkward I had been in middle school.

"I can see how it would be weird for you, especially since you guys have known each other since, like, birth," Jez joked.

"I think you did the right thing moving out. It'll give him time to... recover, for lack of a better word. Besides Nox hooked him up with Nikki, right? I'm sure things will be back to normal in no time. I mean, aside from the fact that she comes off as so sweet that she probably poops rock candy, she's also pretty gorg. Kai will be okay," she laughed.

I doubled over with laughter, surprised by Jez's statement. "Oh my god, Jez, pooping rock candy sounds horrible and painful!" I clutched her shoulder to support myself.

"It's true, though! She's such a nice person! You know that I know about ninety percent of the student body, and I swear not one person I know has ever said anything bad about her." She was holding her hand in the air, doing the Boy Scout's honor salute.

"I know," I smiled through my laughter induced tears, "that's why I was so excited to find out that she liked Kai. If he gives her a chance, I can see them going the distance."

"They'd have beautiful kids."

"Beautiful kids that poop rock candy," I joked, breaking out in a fresh fit of laughter. Jez really knew how to cheer me up. We were leaning on to one another for support and laughing hysterically in the back of the store - this had to be bad for business. Thank goodness for that one really good sale I made earlier in the night. Surely that had to negate the two of us crazies laughing on the job.

"Okay, okay, but seriously. I think that Nikki and Kai will work out in the long run, and I think you and Nox are going to end up getting married sooner rather than later."

I raised my eyebrows at the last statement she made.

She shrugged. "I know that you and Nox haven't been together long, but you guys seem so right for each other. I've never seen you so happy, Vilv. You've been radiating happiness since you started dating him. Don't let anything hold you back from that kind of joy."

"Thanks," I said, pulling her into a big awkward hug. "I'm glad we talked."

"Any time, girl," Jez said with a big grin on her face. "Well, I better get going before I end up closing the store with you. But honestly, any time you need to talk feel free to call, text, Tweet, Facebook message me - whatever." She hopped down from the stool she'd been sitting on and grabbed her things - her car keys and a planner that probably had her credit cards and driver's license in it, too - from the drawer under the til.

I didn't make any more large sales, but I was pleasantly surprised when Nikki strolled in about half an hour before closing. I walked around the counter to give her a hug, which she returned.

"I went on my date with Kai last night," she said sounding strangely uncertain - she did go on a date with Kai last night so I wasn't sure what that was about.

"I know, I heard. How was it?"

"Good. He was a real gentleman; he insisted on paying for everything even though I wanted to pay for myself."

"What did you guys do?" I asked, genuinely curious since there really hadn't been an opportunity for me to ask Kai any questions about his date.

"We went to a movie and then dinner at a nice restaurant. He bought me a bouquet of red and blue roses with baby's breath." She smiled at the memory.

"But obviously everything wasn't perfect, which is why you stopped by instead of calling or texting me," I guessed.

"He was great - so polite and friendly... I don't know if I'm reading too much into it, but he seemed distracted."

He had been distracted, I thought, but at least the date went smoothly. That meant he put in real effort - and he'd bought her roses! In her two favorite colors! He deserved points for going above and beyond.

"He's been pretty busy with work," I said, "and he's been acclimating to me moving out." That was the truth, even though it was slightly edited.

I saw Nikki's shoulders relax. She must have been so worried that she'd done something wrong, or perhaps that Kai genuinely wasn't interested in her. "Thank goodness," she sighed. "He texted me tonight and asked me out on a second date, but I haven't accepted yet. I wanted to talk to you first."

It seemed like Kai was really trying to move on, and with Nikki! The news was so exciting I could barely contain myself. I really, really wanted Kai to find happiness, and as pushy as it may have seemed, I really wanted his happiness to be with Nikki. I wondered if Nox already knew about this latest development.

"If he asked you out again, something must have gone right. Give it a shot. I'm sure he feels terrible about coming off as distracted."

Nikki smiled warmly. "Okay, I will. I really wanted to go on another date with him, but I was so nervous."

I laughed. "I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. You must have guys banging down your door trying to get a date with you."

"I wouldn't say that," she laughed, too, "but it's like I told you before, I've liked Kai for a really long time and I want this to work out. I'm not really used to being the pursuer, and if we even get that far, Kai would be my first boyfriend - ever."

"I'm sure everything will work out," I said as I reached out to give her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure I'll be attending your wedding in no time," I joked, hoping to elicit a smile from her.

"You'd be a bridesmaid, for sure," she said, giving me the smile I had been hoping for. "Well..., since I'm going on another date, can you help me pick out a necklace, and maybe a new pair of earrings?"

"Sure, and I tell you what, it'll be my treat," I said with a big smile as I walked her over to the table that had the jewelry out on display.

***

"How'd work go?" I asked Nox before I bit into my cheeseburger. It was late, and I was hungry, so he'd taken me to the nearest open fast food restaurant to eat.

"Okay," he shrugged. "He didn't fire me, and I didn't quit."

I nodded. "Nothing too exciting go on?"

"Nope, he actually took me by the office tonight and had me file some of his client folders, so we were in completely different rooms." He shrugged as he dipped a French fry in ketchup.

"I have news! Nikki stopped by Heartful tonight and told me that she heard from Kai tonight; he asked her out on a second date," I beamed.

Nox smiled, looking pleased. "That's great. Maybe he really did feel bad about last night."

I nodded. "Probably, it was very uncharacteristic of him."

"I'm still pissed at him," Nox said, "but you are terribly irresistible."

"I'm glad that you're in a good enough place that you can joke about it now," I said, trying to keep my voice light.

He smirked at me. "Well, I had a really great morning."