Chapter fourteen: Food is the way to everyone's heart

O L I V I A

"Finally," I murmured as the driver got the car out of the resort's driveway.

"I'm going to miss them all so much!" Sam sighed.

"Of course, you will." I chuckled. "Your social battery never dies, does it?"

"You know me." She laughed. "I'm assuming yours is dead for the rest of eternity?"

"You got it." I closed my eyes, resting my head against the headrest. The silence didn't last for even a full minute.

Yes, I counted.

"So, what're the haps with you and Kaison?" She exploded.

"How long have you been keeping that in?" I asked without opening my eyes.

"Long enough," she grumbled. "Tell me!" She yanked at my arm.

"Alright, Jesus!" I righted my sleeve and pushed the collar back in place. "I'll tell you if you tell me about Josh."

"What about him?" She questioned innocently.

"That would've worked had I just met you, Sam," I scolded, looking at her.

"I know," she deflated a little, but her eyes were bright with joy.

"You like him," I accused, noting the glow on her face. "You like him a lot!"

She blushed. "Shut up." 

"Oh, my God!" I squealed. "Do you love him?"

"Maybe?" She sang uncertainly. I gasped. "But I don't know!" She hurried to add.

She shook her hands in her lap restlessly, peering out of the window. 

"Sam?" I prompted her to look at me. Her brown eyes met mine hesitantly. I smiled softly to make my expression comforting. I continued, "How long has this been going on?"

She bit her lip and tore her gaze away from mine again. The silence stretched and with its implication, my smile slowly dropped.

"How long?" I asked again, more slowly this time. I thought I had lost the warmth in my tone but I couldn't focus on that. The forefront of my brain was on the fact that my best friend had been hiding a relationship from me long enough to be uncomfortable to tell me. "Six months? A year? More?"

" . . . almost two years," she whispered, staring at her lap.

I collapsed on the seat behind me in shock. Almost two years. I vividly remembered talking to her a few months ago when I was baking. We had been discussing my single life. I also remembered thinking she was a hypocrite to ridicule me about it when she had chosen a similar lifestyle for herself. 

"I . . . " Words failed me. I couldn't think of anything to say. What was there to say anyway?

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I should've told you."

Well, duh.

"How long have you liked him?" I inquired after a moment. I refused to look at her, because if what I was thinking was right, oh I was not going to like it.

"Liv," she pleaded.

"You never got over him, did you?" I asked, feeling like a fool. Blind. I had been so blind.

"It's not that," she defended."It's just that old feelings resurfaced and . . . just look at you and Kaison."

"There's a difference," I snapped, opening my eyes and looking at her. She recoiled at the tone and I tried to dial it down. "I never stopped loving Kai, Samantha. All these years, I've loved him. I still do."

"So you admit it!" She smiled faintly. The weight of the conversation hung on her smile but the happy gleam in her eye was unmistakable. 

I groaned when a wave of affection bathed over me at that, washing away my anger with it. "Why wouldn't you tell me?"

Her brows furrowed. "You were dealing with so much of your own problems-"

"Are you crazy?" I shook my head, interrupting her. "God, that's why you've been single all these years! Josh went to UCLA with you. Goodness!" Mortification gripped me. "How could I never know?!"

"I'm fine, Liv," she said gently. "It's not your fault."

"It bloody is! I call myself your best friend." I laughed humorlessly. "Am I really that selfish, Sam?"

"I should've told you." She sighed. "It's as much on me as it is on you."

"And I should've paid more attention. I'm so sorry." I leaned over and hugged her.

"It's okay," she mumbled against my shoulder. "I still love you."

"I love you, too."

We stayed like that for a while, holding each other. We were cramped and stiff, but we didn't let go. My eyes were moist. All this fighting ceased to mean anything. In that moment it was just me and my best friend baring our souls to each other like we used to do before. We squeezed each other tighter before letting go.

"How are things now?" I asked her, wiping the corners of my eyes.

"They're great," she laughed freely, doing the same. "He's changed a lot. He's better than ever."

"Never thought I'd hear that!" I exclaimed truthfully. Kai had been best friends with Joshua, and yet he would let something about his infinite vices slip when he was mad at him. Which was quite often because as much as Josh knew how to cheer Kaison up, he could also piss him off with his recklessness and deliberate ignorance.

"Oh, go easy on him."

Maybe if he treats you right. 

"What else are you hiding?" I teased her lightly.

She giggled. "Umm, so he may or may not have been visiting me in Chicago every few months now." 

"Last month when you were sick and couldn't talk?" I asked, shocked.

"He was with me," she admitted sheepishly.

I raised my eyebrows. "Wow."

"Yeah," she laughed breathily, "I can't believe it either. It's so relieving to finally tell you! I was dying here."

"I'm so happy for you." I chuckled. "But he really doesn't deserve you."

"Liv," she chided.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "It's your choice and I will give him a chance."

"Thank you!" She said dramatically. "Now, spill the beans about you and Kaison."

"Umm, it's nothing, really." I shrugged indifferently. "We talked it out and I got the closure I needed. What do you want to know?"

"Everything," she said in a duh tone. "But let's start with your illness this morning."

"Ohh, the ibuprofen." I nodded. "It was for my cramps."

"That would make sense if you would actually take the damned thing before you reached the verge of death," she smarted.

"I swear, I'm not lying!" 

"Look at me in the eye," she demanded. I rolled my eyes but complied. "Okay, you're not lying."

"Told you."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Anything else?" I questioned half-heartedly.

"Those chocolates you had last night were not from the snack table, were they?" She asked knowingly.

I bit my lip to hold in a stupid giggle. "No."

"Kaison gave you those, right?"

"Maybe," I sang.

"I fucking knew it!" She laughed.

And then I was grilled by my best friend. And she was thorough. I lost track of time and the questions she asked. It was almost like playing rapid fire. She milked me.

"We're here, miss," the driver interrupted our conversation. Thank god, because I was exhausted. That girl was meticulous. And draining when she got to it.

"Thank you." I smiled at him before unlocking the door. Sam stepped out, too. The boys were not there yet and we were keeping an eye out for them while the driver got the bags out.

"That's all, ladies," he informed us. With another thank you, we watched him drive off.

"Should we wait inside?" I asked Sam. "They might be stuck in traffic and I really want to sit down."

My cramps were starting to return in small waves. Standing up was really uncomfortable.

"Of course," she agreed. "I'll just text Griffin and Josh."

"I'll text Kai."

I sighed, resisting the urge to melt onto the pavement. I had just pulled out my phone when Sam's rang. I waited while she picked it up. I had a feeling it was one of the boys.

"They're almost here," she informed me, confirming my thoughts. "You think you can last five minutes?"

"Yeah," I said, shifting from one foot to the other. A mild wave of nausea invaded my senses and I resisted the urge to double over. "I think."

She looked at me in concern and I sent her the best reassuring look I could manage.

"We're waiting outside," she told them with a sigh. "Make it quick."

Like that would ease the traffic. But I appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

I tentatively sat down on my suitcase, keeping my legs rigid to ensure I wouldn't fall and holding onto the bar. Sam gave me a look as if to ask 'really?' I stuck my tongue out at her in response and she laughed.

True to their word, the guys arrived in the next five minutes. Griffin and Josh got out first. I waited for Kai to come out too, but he didn't till the luggage was out. When he did, he was almost unrecognizable. He was wearing a cap and a pair of sunglasses. He had also put on a massive coat but one of the sleeves was vacant. I guessed that it was because of his injured hand.

Sam did a double-take when she saw him.

"What the fuck?" She exclaimed. "Is that-?"

"Kai," I confirmed.

"Paparazzi," he muttered, answering our unspoken question. "The news got out when I didn't play in the game earlier this week. And when our friends posted photos, they tagged me. In public accounts. Putains d'idiots (Fucking idiots)." 

"Ohh," I nodded, "Makes sense."

"Hotshot." Sam laughed.

He shrugged at her as we piled our luggage on trolleys. Josh was wheeling his and Kaison's since Kai couldn't take his own properly. I didn't get a trolley because I just had one suitcase and a shoulder bag. I could manage.

"I hate this," he grumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

"I can imagine," I said sympathetically as we started walking. "That looks uncomfortable."

"You have no idea," he said. "Here," he offered, bringing his hand out of the coat. He was holding a small container.

"What is it?" I asked as I took it. It had a Starbucks logo on it and it was cold.

"Cold coffee," I realized at the same time he said it.

"You mentioned you'd like some," he said, shaking his hand to rid the cold from it.

"Thanks, Kai," I smiled, kissing his cheek. It was so sweet of him. I had mentioned it only in passing. I wanted to savor the drink but we had to go in so we paused again while I finished drinking it. It was my regular order from when we were in high school and it was hard to keep myself from smiling.

Half an hour later, we were sitting in the waiting chairs roughly midway between Sam and Griffin's terminals. We planned to sit there till they both boarded before relocating to the terminal of our flights.

"You have approximately ten minutes before your boarding starts, Griff." I grinned at him.

"I know." He groaned as he walked around. He stretched a little in the corner.

"What's he doing?" Kai leaned over to ask me. Josh and Samatha were talking among themselves, sometimes kissing too.

"He's tall and the economy legroom isn't that good," I replied. "He is preparing for the inevitable stiffness."

"Oh." He nodded empathetically. "I can relate."

"Umhmm." I smiled. "How tall are you? Six? Six one?"

"Six four, thank you very much," he huffed.

"Damn!" I raised my eyebrows. "Last I remember you were six."

"I grew," he stated smugly.

"You don't seem much taller," I commented. "No offense."

"None taken, but you might've grown as well. Studies show that girls keep growing till they're twenty."

"Still a secret nerd, I see," I said teasingly. "What's your excuse?"

"For growing? I don't have one." He laughed.

"I-"

"I have to go," Griffin interrupted with a sigh. "That was my boarding call."

Early boarding, I see.

"Bye, Griffin." Sam hugged him, detaching herself from Josh. "Stay alive."

He chuckled. "I can manage that."

"We'll miss you." I hugged him next.

"You'll see me in two days." He snorted.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes with a smile. "Don't forget to call. And tell George I miss him, too."

"You talk to him," he said.

"I have been," I replied. "But still."

"Okay," he agreed. "I will. Stay safe, Olive."

I grinned at him. "You, too."

"See ya, mate," Josh waved.

"See you," Kaison nodded.

"See you," Griffin repeated unenthusiastically before walking off. He wasn't particularly thrilled with our chosen partners.

"I'm next," Sam chirped.

"You have a good half an hour at least," I told her.

She grinned evilly, as if pleased that I had bought it up. "I know. And I plan to make the most of it." 

Oh, no.

"Josh, baby, do you mind getting me something to eat?"

"Sure," he answered, getting up. "Sweet or sour?"

"Anything will do," she told him. "As long as it takes you a while."

"Gotcha." He nodded with a smirk and walked away.

"Kaison?" She targetted him next.

"I know. Get Livvy something to eat." He rolled his eyes. "You could just tell us to leave you two alone, you know? We're very much capable of that."

"Josh is, you aren't," she responded. "You can't take your eyes off her."

"I'm right here." I raised my hand, trying to cover up the way my cheeks were coloring up.

"We know." She smiled at me knowingly. "Now off you go," she urged Kai. "Shooo."

"Fine," he gave up. "Be right back."

"No," Sam denied. "Take as long as you need."

"I need only ten minutes," he said.

"Don't make me kick your ass, Jennings," Sam warned.

"I'd love to see you try." The glasses hid it, but I could imagine him narrowing his eyes at her.

"C'mere," she scowled at him, "I'll show you."

"Sam," I cautioned.

"Twenty minutes," Kai waggled his finger at us. "That's all you get."

"That's all I need," Sam retorted, sticking her tongue out. "Now go!"

He obligingly dragged himself away with a grimace.

"Finally!' She exclaimed. "Alone with my bestie."

"We were alone like an hour ago." I chortled. "But go ahead, tell me what's up."

"You're going back to NYC with Kaison!" She squealed.

"And Josh," I reminded her. "What about that?"

"What about that?" She scoffed. "Open your eyes already!"

My color deepened. "Shut up!"

"I've been saying this for years, I'll say it again. Kiss and make up!"

"Sure, why not?" I said seriously. She didn't even bother to look for sarcasm in that statement, which must've been hard since the words dripped with it.

"Really! Yes!" She rejoiced.

"No," I deadpanned, rubbing my forehead. "Read the room, Samantha."

"I don't want to. It's always so rigid," she complained.

I shrugged. "Not my problem."

"Exactly your problem," she riposted.

"Fuck off, dude," I snapped.

"Please? Pretty please?" She pleaded.

"Samanthaaa," I groaned.

"Just give him a chance. Trust me."

"I don't want to go down that road," I lied.

"You'll not regret it," she promised.

I shit her a look. "How can you even guarantee it?"

" . . . gut feeling. Please, Liv. Just trust me on this one."

"Sam?"

"Yeah?" She smiled hopefully.

"Will you leave me alone if I said yes?" I almost begged.

"I promise."

"Fine, then. Yes."

"Yes to what?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yes, I'll give Kai a chance. God!" I whined. She just had to be thorough.

"Yay!" She reached over to hug me. "I love you!"

"Yeah, whatever." I rolled my eyes and hugged her back.

"I can't believe it. I've always shipped your guys!" She screeched.

"Lower," I chided. "And not always. I remember you wanting to wrangle his guts out to feed them to Mrs. Whiskers."

May her soul rest in peace.

"Yeah, things change," she declared airily.

"You're telling me." I laughed. "By the way, did Griffin know about you and Josh?"

She winced guiltily. "No."

"Boy, you're in for it." I laughed. 

"I know," she whined. "I just- If Griffin hates Kaison, he absolutely loathes Josh."

"He'll come around," I comforted her. I knew he would. He was supportive of me when I had confessed to him what I was feeling about Kaison. I was positive he would support her too. Albeit bitterly, but he would. And if Sam said Josh was nice, maybe he was an acquired taste. Or maybe he had changed. Whatever the case, it would work out.

"I'm scared," she mumbled, hiding her face in her hands.

I chuckled. "You brought this on yourself. Suck it up."

"Yeah," she raised her head, resting her chin on her hands, "I just have to figure out how to tell him without hurting him."

"You will," I assured her. She nodded thoughtfully.

"I hope you're done talking," Kai said from a few feet away, "Because your time is over."

"I am," I told him. He looked at Sam expectantly.

She rolled her eyes. "I guess I am, too."

"Thank you!" He dropped down into a chair next to me. "There you go, mon amour." He passed me a sandwich.

"Thanks," I beamed. I was hungry. "Did you eat anything?"

"I'm not hungry." He shrugged.

"The fuck you're not," I scolded. "Eat." I split the sandwich in half messily.

"Livvy." He groaned.

"Suck it up," I apprised, biting into my half. Ah, heaven. It was exactly the kind I liked.

"Don't I get anything?" Sam looked at me innocently. "I'm hungry too."

"Nope," I popped the 'p'. "Wait for your boyfriend."

"But we just had a heart-to-heart!" She protested.

"The moment is over," I declared flippantly, biting off another huge chunk.

"Traitor," she scoffed dramatically.

"It's food." I laughed in response through my mouthful. "What did you expect?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N:-

I have tests due soon. Yay!

Yeah, the excitement was sarcastic. Holy crap, I have a lot of work to catch up with. I hate studying but I mostly plan on eventually making money from it. How tf does that work?

QOTD: On a scale of one to ten, how much do you despise tests and online classes? (One meaning 'i love them'and ten being 'they're the fukcing worst')

See you tomorrow (if I survive that long)! Take care.

All my love,
xoxo.