Kieran felt one step closer to showing her that he could be more than just a friend she works with and relies on. He kissed the top of her head before releasing her. “I’m going. Make sure you don’t stay too late.”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll leave in about an hour now you should just go.”
He turned and closed her door. Kieran walked away with a bit of pep in his step. His giddiness was evident from anyone that walked by him. A smile was plastered on his face even when he tried to remove it. A date with Emma Jean was worth the throbbing pain in his arm. Kieran got in the car and directed the driver to take him home but to return for her.
Emma Jean stood by the door with her right hand clenched into a fist. Her eyes were narrowed. Determination oozed from her pores. “Just get it over with.” She went back to her desk and grabbed her phone. Her finger hoovered over the call button on his contact. She closed her eyes and pressed call. The phone began to ring. “If he doesn’t
“If you want to take me out on a date then you plan it not me.” “Wouldn’t it be better to cater it to you so that you at least like the date?” “I’m a pretty easy-going guy so do whatever you want. If that’s all you wanted to ask me then I’ll be ending the call then.” “R-right. Then I’ll text you when a good time will be fore me. I hope it lines up with your schedule.” “Mmhmm. Have a good evening then.” Kenji ended the call. He Had gone to the urgent care clinic to be looked at but was ultimately told to ice his cheek. Nothing was broken. It was a relieve that Kieran actually doesn’t hit as hard as he thinks he does. Kenji was sitting in his car with the seat reclined. His hand was covering his face. “She really asked me out on a date. I bet it had something to do with Rowan.” Emma Jean stared at her phone. The lock screen was an image of her daddy with cake smeared across his face. She gave a wistful smile remembering how that image came into
Emma Jean sighed and rubbed her eyes. The driver came around her side of the door and opened it. He assisted her with getting out. When she exited the car, she seen someone standing just at the base of her stairs. She walked closer and became angry with them. “I thought I told you to go home and rest?”“Yeah, you did but I just couldn’t stay home and not make sure that you got home alright.”She sighed and punched him in his left arm. “Geez, you idiot. I’m home now you should go home and rest.”“I haven’t eaten yet. Why not send me home after feeding me?”She narrowed her eyes at him. He was milking this to the full extent. “Fine but you better not ask to stay here. I want to actually sleep tonight and not stay up late doing whatever it was that we did.”“I can make sure to go home as soon as I’m feed and full. Now will you make me you famous fried chicken and potato salad? Oh, with an apple pie?”“How about fried chicken, mashed potatoes instead
Kieran had hoped she would say something. The room was silent safe for the clock on the wall continued to tick. It felt like an eternity before she spoke. He just waited with bated breath.“Kieran, we've been friends for like ever. Do you know what kind of position this puts me in?”“Yeah I do but I figured it was time I stop watching you with love in my eyes and heart, and finally go for it. All I ask is one date. I’ll show you the best time ever. You won’t regret it.”“And what if I don’t like the date? What if our friendship is ruined because of this?”“Only way our friendship could end is if either of us can’t be mature and reasonable adults. You’ll always be my best friend.”“You lied to me about being gay. That’s a huge red flag you know.”“Well true but in my defense I did try to date those guys you would set me up with but it’s just. I mea
Emma Jean looked at the words he sent her with her eyebrows knitted together. He planned to make her fall for him? He was absolutely ridiculous. [It would seem lies become you.]Another ding came through her phone. It was as if he were flirting with her, the same one that not only accused him of being a gold digger but a cad. [If it were a lie you wouldn’t be entertaining me right now.][I’m not. Goodnight mr. james.] She held a small smile on her face when she put her phone away. “Yeah, like you can get me to fall for you. A man of mystery. Not interested in the least.”Kenji had gone inside after sending her one more message. [goodnight little miss emma. Even though its only 8pm. I know you are trying to avoid me.] He chuckled knowing she probably read it and had a frustrated look on her face. If it weren’t for her idiotic father, they could have had an honest to goodness decent relationship. He schooled his features into a frown to keep the smile from taking ove
Kenji took a seat, he was dumbfounded. He mentally had gone through his head to make up a plan but the name escaped him. That caused his mother to smile in triumph. Kenji usually was one to always have a retort. “Well it certainly seems you still need my help. The best way to come up with a name is just talking it out. No need to ruminate on your own. So let’s do it honey bunches.” She gave him her warm motherly smile. “You sure do have the brains when it’s between you and dad.”“Oh, hush child. All women have the ability to lead a man to water. Some of us let him drink on his own and the others push his head in the water hoping he doesn’t drown.”“I never thought of it that way. And I hope that never happens to me.”“Only the pig headed gets the pleasure of being pushed to drink. Luckily, your father isn’t pig headed.““Good to know. Then how should we talk this out?”“I guess we just talk my dear. Do you have anyone you’re interes
Emma Jean laid in her bed staring at her phone. His last message had her dumbfounded, she was in awe. He brazenly sent her that message. First thing in the morning no less. She didn’t know what to do. She just continued to stare at her phone. The sun was peaking into her window as it raised in the sky. There was no way she could let this man steal her breath away. She decided to fight him at every turn. Making sure Kari-Hope was ranked number one in the world would be her only objective. She sent a message back to him.[Only thing youll be eating is crow when you realize I am simply not interested in you. Welcome to try and change my mind even though you wont succeed.]Getting ready for the day, she got out of bed. Stretching her arms high in the sky, bending backwards just enough to feel her muscles relax. Emma jean walked to her closest scratching her messy curls. Today there would be another meeting about the new park. It all felt overwhelming. She wasn’t ready to han
The call ended between the two of them with him saying that. Why was it that two guys were now trying to vie for her attention? It almost seemed laughable. If a third person came into her life saying they wanted to date her, she half thought she would pull her hair out. Emma Jean checked the mirror one last time to make sure she was presentable for the day. As she was heading out, she received another text message from Kenji. It was only an emoji. A winking emoji. Instead of replying she left the message on read.When she got outside the driver was there waiting for her. She gave him a smile. He was always there and waiting for her. Seeing as two men wanted her attention, she couldn’t help asking him about his feelings. “You don’t have any affections towards me, do you?”The man was taken aback by her statement. He never thought she would talk to him. He stood there staring at her. It took him until they both were seated in the vehicle that he f
Kenji had woken up to see the message from Emma. He thought to himself, she really is going to play hard to get. He sent her back a winking emoji just so she knew he would be accepting the challenge. He went on ahead to get ready for the day. It was going to be a long day for him running all over town but once he made up his mind there was no turning back. His father walked into the bathroom and watched him. Kenji knew there was something he wanted to say to him. “Yes, dad?”“Have you given any thoughts about what we discussed last night?”“Of course, I’m heading out to get started on the day. Didn’t mom talk to you about it this morning when you woke up?”“She did, but I wanted to hear it straight from your mouth myself.”“Ok, dad. I am going to start a food truck. I will have a job and a way to get out of your house so I am not imposing on you and mom anymore.”He clapp