Kia described her conversation with Sullivan. She left out the part where Sullivan unbuttoned Kia’s jacket and she awkwardly flirted with Sullivan.
When she’d finished, Lillian said, “It’s weird, but I’m kind ofhappy for you. Maybe you and Sullivan can reconnect. You adored her in school.”
Kia nodded slowly.
It wasn’t fair. If she’d met Sullivan in any other way, Sullivan might have wanted to be her friend. And just maybe Kia had seen a spark of interest as Sullivan glanced at her body. The chance that that passing attraction was enough to light a fire were slim. The chance that that passing attraction was enough to light a firenowwas nonexistent.
“She did make me a coffee,” Kia said. “With a marshmallow, mint, and coriander syrup.”
“See?” Lillian said. “She can’t hate you if she made you that… creative drink.”
Kia said goodbye to Lillian and flopped down on her bed, staring up at the skylight. It was close enough that she could almost touch it while she was lying down. The stars, on the other hand, were a bazillion light-years away. Kia rolled Lillian’s words around in her mind. Was there any way Sullivan could forgive her? Was it possible that remembering Kia’s favorite coffee and tasting the Rice Krispies treats could equal something like affection? Tolerance? Nostalgia for the practice kitchen? Something that wasn’t a strong dislike mixed with several cups of desperation and probably a tablespoonful ofI can’t believe I kissed this woman back in the day?Her father would say yes. Happiness could be right around the corner. Newly in love Lillian would say yes. Kia’s heart and mind said no. The whole reason she wanted to build Taste the Love Land was that she’d seen too many people struggle and suffer. On-screen, she was bubbly Kia Gourmazing. On her old digital camera, she was Kia Jackson, who had seen the world, knew how beautiful it could be, and knew how often sad things happened to good people.
chapter 10
Sullivan couldn’t believeshe was getting married. A huge abstract of swirling oranges and blues graced the expansive lobby of the Multnomah County Courthouse. Men in suits and women in power sweater sets hurried across the marble floor. Beside her, Opal stood in an ironed rugby jersey and Nina in a red suit that said,I’m going to annihilate you in court before mimosa brunch at the Ritz.
Sullivan had always wanted to get married. For a while, she’d thought she would marry Aubrey. To have someone who loved you forever. Loved your foibles. Adored the eccentric habits you hid on the first date. And of course, every marriage saw difficult times, but love made those hardships sacred. This was not that marriage. And, logically, she knew her arrangement with Kia had nothing to do with whether or not another person would love her. But somehow being married for money made her feel like no one would ever want her. She stuffed the feeling deep in her pocket and tried to forget it. She had a enough reason to feel sorry for herself without inventing things.
Sullivan spotted Kia as soon as she entered the huge, open space. The girl who’d helped serve crepes bounded beside Kia.
“I can’t believe I’m going to witness Kia Gourmazing’smarriage,” the girl said by way of greeting. Her eyes got wide like an anime character looking at a cake. “I know you’ve been in love this whole time. You have total chemistry. Are you eloping?” She expounded on how signing their wedding license was almost as amazing as having Jesus as a houseguest. “I mean, I’ve never had Jesus as a houseguest. Like, spiritually, I have. But not, like, IRL.”
“I’m Nina,” Nina cut in. She extended her hand to Kia. “We talked on the phone. This is Opal. She’ll witness too.”
Kia shook Opal’s hand, then introduced the girl.
“This is my assistant, Deja.”
“I am in love with your love story. You two.” She made her hands into a heart and held it over her chest. “Hashtag ‘relationship goals.’”
Please don’t let this marriage be anyone’s #RelationshipGoals.
“Hi,” Kia said to Sullivan, fidgeting with her phone, which she clasped in one hand. “Thanks for this.”
Kia wore a formfitting dress. Bands of fuchsia crisscrossed her body. A stripe of pink held the weight of her breasts. The dress stretched over her hips. Dark orange glitter sparkled in her hair. She wore white boots that could have stepped off a runway or out of a military operation in the snow. She also looked tough, a little terrified, and…pretty. How had Sullivan been so immersed in the competition for flavor and technique, in the intensity of the rivalry, that she failed to see Kia fully? If someone had asked, Sullivan would have said,Yeah, sure, of course she’s pretty. But she’d neverfeltKia’s beauty, not the way she felt it now. Kia’s beauty was classic like an African queen. Kia’s golden-brown eyes danced. Her lips looked soft and sumptuous. The sweep of her curves was so tempting…
“Hey,” Nina prompted.
Shit. Had she been staring at Kia in a way that suggested… the kind of interest a person should have (and Sullivan absolutelyshould not have) in their future wife? A hint ofgotchapulled at Kia’s lips, just like when she bested Sullivan at lyophilization, managing to freeze-dry quail eggs and broccolini into a stunning and delectable dish.
“Let’s get this over with then,” Sullivan said, gesturing toward a wide flight of stairs.
Kia fell in step beside Sullivan as they mounted immaculately polished stairs to the second floor.
“You look nice,” Kia said.
Sullivan had worn a suit.
“You also”—Sullivan looked as far away from Kia as she could without turning her head around like an owl—“look like you dressed for the occasion.”
“I thought I could make it a little special at least.” Kia dipped her chin and blinked a few times, as if Sullivan was so wonderful she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her fake charm was not working.
“I already said I’d marry you.”
“My marketing manager said I should take some pics of the wedding in case we want to put it on the channel,” Kia said with less charm. “Maybe. When we get divorced that’ll be off-brand, but we might just cut you out slowly and hope people forget about you. Like when Bowling Ball the bulldog died. They didn’t do a big death announcement, just got a new puppy and let it ride. You knew Bowling Ball, right?”
Sullivan stopped midway up the marble stairs.
