After that conversation, everyone seemed to loosen up a little. Miles and my dad focused on the news and were talking about everything and anything from the stock exchange to football. I sat with my mum and we spoke about Couture Week and the fashion show in less than two months.
She was worried that it would be too hectic for me to handle both events but I assured her that I would be fine and even promised to take a short vacation after it. She caught me up on all the family gossip that I had missed and honestly, I had a great time.
I enjoy being on my own but sometimes, I find that spending time with my parents really takes the edge off and helps me to forget about all the things that bother me.
My alarm rang effectively cutting through everyone’s conversation and letting me know it was time to leave. My mumtried to convince us to stay longer but I couldn’t. She finally relented but not before making sure that both Miles and I had plastic bowls filled with chin chin and chicken.
“Thank you for coming,” mum said as she walked me to the door, “It felt good to have you.”
“It felt good to be here.” I turned to leave when my dad called out my name.
“Emiade,” I hummed in response and he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, “I’m proud of you.”
I fought back tears as I gave him a warm smile, “Thank you. I should go now.”
As usual, he watched through the window and waited for Miles to pull out of the street before he went in.
As Miles started the drive home, I realized I didn’t want to go home, “Do you live close by?”
“Fifteen minutes away; why?”
“You can go home,” he opened his mouth to protest but I cut him off, “I want to go somewhere alone; you’re done for the day.”
“If you’re sure-,”
“I am.”
He pulled into a parking lot and I waited until his Uber arrived before I got into the driver’s seat and drove to the café bookstore.
It was just as I remembered and while I was placing an order for hot chocolate; I recognized the woman from before who recommended The Kiss Quotient to me. She seemed to recognize me too because a huge smile took over her features.
“I see you’re back; I take it to mean that you enjoyed the book.”
“I did actually,” I admitted, “Do you have any recommendations for me?”
“Of course; come with me.”
I followed her around as she picked a bunch of books off the shelf with pretty looking covers but if they’re anything like the last book, I can guarantee that they are all a different level of spicy.
We were rounding the romance shelf when she came to a halt and said two words that made me freeze in place.
“Hi Nathan,”
At first I tried to convince myself that she could be talking to anyone because he could’t be the only person bearing the name Nathan in New York City but then I heard his voice.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“I am helping,” she froze and turned to me giving him a full view of my face, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Adira,” it was Nathan who responded, “Don’t worry Kayla; I can take it from here.”
She handed him the stack of books and rushed off to help the next person in need. We stood there staring at each other not knowing how to break the silence. He was wearing something similar to what I saw him in the last time we were here- black trousers and a sweatshirt the color of dark coffee with a baseball cap covering his face. There were writings on the sweatshirt but they were too tiny for me to make out without squinting.
“Why don’t we go ring these up?” he said and without waiting for me to respond, he turned on his heels and made his way towards checkout.
I followed close behind and just as he reached the counter; he froze and turned back then grabbed a book off the shelf. It was the last copy so I wasn’t able to read the title but I saw am ‘A’ and the word ‘You’.
We got to the checkout and I was about to take out my card when Nathan handed his to the cashier.
