Just Friends

4

Oh my fucking God.

It was Kayden. Kayden Collins. He was hotter than the last time I saw him when he was 15.

The two-inch scar running behind his ear gave it away. He got it after falling off the monkey bars when he was three but he liked to say that he had fought with dinosaurs and one bit him there.

"That's Kayden Collins." I heard the girl murmured. "I heard he got the job that Logan Wong left last year."

Logan Wong. I flipped through my mother's gossip sessions in my mind. Logan Wong was the head of international operations of Globe Real Estate and Company, the huge real estate agency that dominated all a lot of Asian countries, Australia, and England's real estate market. I heard that they were also expanding offices around North America too. Logan had been fired and arrested after being caught laundering money. So I guess Kayden took his job.

I turned back to the couple. "Excuse me will you?" I didn't wait before walking away and towards Kayden and my brother.

"Mali!" My brother exclaimed with a grin when I was a few feet away.

He gave me a hug and so did Grace and little Joey who was adorable dress like my brother in a matching navy colored changshan with golden embroidered dragons and a little silk bowl hat.

I then turned to Kayden who flashed me smile.

"Hey." He said. His voice was much lower than I remembered. He held his arm out for a handshake. His British accent was also more distinct than I remembered it.

"Hi," I smiled back, before taking his hand in mine. Like I predicted, his hand was much larger than mine and slightly calloused.

"Oh come on guys," Max said rolling his eyes "this isn't middle school "give each other a hug."

Grace giggled rolling her eyes at my brother.

Kayden's eyes twinkled before taking me into a quick hug. It was so quick that I was momentarily dizzy the moment he pushed away. His scent of cologne lingered in my nostrils making me weak in the knees.

"So how are you?" He said, "It's been a while."

I nodded in agreement. I was staring at his long eyelashes. Were they always that long? "I've been good. I'm living in New York City now."

"I've heard," He said, "Max told me. How do you like it there?"

"I love it," I said with a grin.I really do love New York City and can't think of living anywhere else anymore. We stood there a moment in silence just looking at each other before my brother obnoxious voice broke in.

"Oh look they brought out the food, finally! I'm starving. " Max said earning a hit in the arm from his wife.

Joey also squealed at the site like his father. "Like father, like son." Grace chuckled before following her husband with her child in her arms. "Excuse us."

"So," Kayden said making me turn back to him. My eyes linked to his gorgeous eyes. Was it possible to eye cosmetic surgery on your eye color? I don't remember them being so light, almost hazel with green. Was it possible for Asians to have such light eyes? I guess it was the British in him.

"Hm?" I raised my eyebrows realizing he said something.

He chuckled, "I said do you want to go on the balcony, people are starting to come in and get food. It's going to be crowded right now."

He was right, there were people filtering around us into the dining room where we were standing.

I nodded and he led the way to the balcony. It gave me an up close and personal view of his broad back in his fitted suit jacket. My eyes tapered into a slim waist and I could almost imagine how dreamy my face looked. Kayden abruptly stopped making me run into him and making me catch another whiff of his mesmerizing cologne.

He chuckled before turning. We were almost chest to chest.

"I think the balcony is a little occupied right now," Kayden pointed out of the darkened windows where a couple was making out in the far right corner.

"Don't tell my mother." I giggled, imagining the hissy fit she would have if she knew.

He smiled too. "Let us sit over there." He pointed at the chairs along the wall for the guests. The living room was practically empty because everyone had rushed to get their seats at the dinner table even though dinner wasn't starting for another 20 minutes.

I followed him and we sat down.

"So where are living now?" I ask adjusting my Angelina Jolie slit. The last thing I wanted in the gossip magazines was a picture of me flashing my underwear.

"I'm in Singapore right now, but making the move back here." He said, "I just got a job at real estate company."

"Oh don't play it down." I said narrowing my eyes narrowly, "I heard you are the new head of operation at Globe real estate. Congrats."

"Ah." He shrugged casually with a light smile. "Thanks but it's not a big deal."

I laughed "do you know how many people want your job? I know probably know at least 50 people who would sell their first born son to have your job."

"I guess I should be pretty thankful," He chuckled. "So are you married yet?"

I was caught off guard by his question and all I could do was laugh. "Nope. Are you?"

He shook his head in response. "Why not?" He said, "Haven't you had your parents pressured you?"

"Just a bit but I think its because I'm the only girl and they have their hands full with Joey." I said "Have your parents?"

"More my mum than my dad." He said, "She thinks that its better for my reputation to have a wife. Don't you want to get married?"

"I just want to have fun right now," I shrugged, "I'm not ready to settle."

"So does that mean you have multiple boy toys chasing after you?" He said wiggling his eyebrows mischievously.

I busted out laughing again. His eyebrow wiggles made him look boyish again.

 "Loads," I said jokingly. "They are lining up around the corner of my apartment complex."

There was a grin but there was a slight shadow that passed through his eyes. Almost like he wanted to say something but was debating if he should.

"I'm kidding," I said quickly. "But I've had my share of guys. I just love the single life right now. What about you?"

"I date, but nothing serious." He shrugged. "Like you, I'm enjoying being single."

I was about to say something before I heard the dinner bell ring. It was a little bell my mother insisted on getting when I studied in Paris. Dinner was announced and the people in the living room still began to move into the dining room.

Kayden and I also shuffled without conversation into the dining room, separating at the doorways to be ushered to our seats. I took a seat next to Grace who had Joey on her lap, who was gnawing away on a dinner roll.

My mother stood up calling for a toast.