T's & C's (don't) Apply

41. Let's (Not) Dine with My Family

I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I looked at Ethan and he looked back sheepishly. Kai appeared to be at ease and showed no sign of being bothered by my surprised reaction. 

"Ethan darling." Mom walked in with an apron around her waist. 

She kissed Ethan on the cheek and hugged him. Ethan smiled and as usual fitted right into my family, even better than I ever did. 

"Did Nan not accompany you?" 

Ethan shook his head. "She's visiting my aunt but sends her love." 

"That's a pity but I understand."

Mom's eyes landed on Kai, and she scrutinised him from head to toe. "Who might this be?" 

Kai stepped forward and half-grinned. "I'm Kai. It's nice to meet you." 

I noticed how his hand twitched at his side but chose not to offer a handshake. Mom smiled warmly and welcomed him. 

"How do you and Ethan know each other?" Mom asked. 

Ethan looked between me and Kai while I looked between Mom and Kai. I knew that if she found out I was acquainted with Kai, her mind would twist it around and she would likely jump to conclusions. 

"They're friends," I answered on behalf of Ethan. 

Ethan frowned slightly but I pleaded with my eyes for him to go along with it. Kai looked at me confused but I avoided any eye contact with him. 

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, he's a friend." 

"Friend?" Laurel raised a brow. 

"Yes, Ethan has many friends," I replied on his behalf. "Can we stop asking so many questions, you're going to make Kai uncomfortable." 

"Kai?" Mom caught on very quickly. "Do you know him too?" 

I huffed. "What did I say about all the questions? I'm friends with Ethan so naturally, I know some of his friends too. I swear he's human so you can stop staring at him that way." 

"The food is going to get cold. Can we eat already?" Laurel thankfully changed the subject. 

"Yes of course. Ethan, will you and your friend be staying for tea?" 

"Er," Ethan hesitated and looked at me. "Okay, sure." 

I couldn't tell Ethan not to stay for dinner after the amount he'd fed me in London. I just needed the evening to go smoothly without my parents finding out who Kai was. 

"I'll go wash up," Ethan announced as soon as Mom and Laurel left. 

I tried to stop him, but he beelined so quickly out of the living room that I couldn't catch him. Kai looked around the room with his hands in his pockets, unaffected by his sudden appearance. He must've felt the way I stared at him because he froze and slowly turned to look my way. He appeared startled for a second.

"Are you embarrassed of me, Coco?" 

"What are you doing here?" I ignored his stupid question.

"You are embarrassed of me," Kai stated to himself. "I don't understand why though. I'm tall, handsome, and polit-"

I glowered. "Kaidan." 

"Full name," he muttered under his breath. "You seem upset." 

"Upset?" I took a step forward. "That doesn't begin to explain how I feel right now. How did you manage to convince Ethan to bring you here?" 

"I didn't. He offered," Kai casually replied. "Unlike some people, Edgar is kind." 

"You don't even call him by his name, yet you got in his car and..."