Enzo’s exit was my cue to update Joey on what had been eating me up.
“Kevin kissed me,” I blurted, taking a sip of the cappuccino to avoid meeting her gaze.
Joey's eyes grew wide with shock. I couldn’t decipher whether it was pleasant or horrified. She then burst into laughter, her entire body vibrating.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, perplexed by her reaction.
“Forgive me for that display of incivility, but my dear…” Before she could finish, she started laughing again, struggling to breathe.
“Joey?” She was confusing me more. Why did she find the fact that Kevin kissed me funny?
She cleared her throat, appearing serious. “Fine, no more crazy outbursts.” She raised her hands in surrender. “Come to think of it, I thought you couldn’t stand the sight of Kevin. How come you guys were eating away at each other’s lips?”
“I didn’t say it was a make-out session. I said he kissed me… He did. Don’t get it twisted.” If she needed me to spell it out, then I would.
Joey drank from her latte, slowly licking up the foam on her lips. She was a cute pain in the rear.
“Quick one though, did you push him away when he allegedly ‘kissed you'?” she interrogated, making air quotes with her fingers.
I realized what she was trying to do. “Wait, do you think I'm sieving out the details?” Was Joey trying to insinuate something?
“You haven't answered the question, Licia,” she insisted. “Did you push him away?”
“I didn’t push him away, but I didn’t kiss him back either,” I defended, which only made Joey give me a knowing smile.
“So you liked it?” she theorized, relaxing in her seat.
“That’s not the point.” I dismissed her dissection. Why was she trying to nail me to the coffin?
“It’s all over your face. You really did like it.”
There was nowhere to hide. “Okay, I didn’t hate it, but I resigned from being his nurse.”
The look Joey gave me made me feel like she thought I was going crazy.
“Wait, was this before or after the kiss?” Joey asked, moving her finger to the right, then to the left.
“After,” I responded, looking down at my cup. It felt like I was defending myself before a college panel.
“Oh, okay. I think I get it.
He kissed you, you liked it. You resigned because you felt something you dread. So, what's the issue now?”
That was some good analysis right there.
“He came by the house. We talked, and he wants another chance with me.”
“And?”
“I don't know what to do, Joey. I feel like the flames are being rekindled, and it scares me. I don't like how vulnerable I feel around him.” I let out a deep sigh.
Joey reached across the table and squeezed my hands gently. “I get your fears, babes. It would be strange if they weren't there, given your history with him. You can't control what your heart feels, but time will tell his true intentions. Then you can decide whether it's worth it or not.”
My raging thoughts were finally calming down. I processed what Joey said. Time would really tell.
“I want Kevin and I to stay just friends. That’s fair and safe for me.”
“It’s your choice to make. No obligations, no expectations.”
