"You need to get out."
Audrina peered her eyes over the rim of her drink. In the seat diagonal to her, her friend she met soon after she moved. The settlement into her new surroundings was made easier with Bri. She was willing to help her with adjusting to the culture shock and the little things that she was foreign to.
"I am.", she settled the cup down. "Out."
They were at a brunch restaurant, outside under one of the umbrella tables. The sun was just reaching its high point, the clock hitting twelve. Audrina, thought she says otherwise, had found habit in her home. While she finds her time to go out like such, it's become a sparse occurrence.
"That's not what I mean", she narrowed her eyes, calling out the woman's oblivious understanding. "I've yet to see you try and hold more of a small conversation with anyone other than me."
Audrina took in a fork full of food, not bothered by what she was insinuating. Usually she would avoid this conversation for it always led to the same topic. Every time. But something about this time around wanted to prove her wrong.
"This guy yesterday, I held a whole 6 minute conversation with him", she said sarcastically, "You'd be proud."
Bri huffed, catching through her clear tone. "Name?"
"Ezra", Audrina answered. No hesitation.
"He's from here.?"
"Just transferred job locations "
"Attractive?"
"To an extent.", Audrina shrugged. "But does that matter?"
Bri leaned back into her chair, folding her arms over each other. One of her eyebrows lifted, beknowst to Audrina as she continued eating her food. Bri waited till she lifted her gaze from the unanswered question.
"What?", she asked.
"You don't like to talk about someone you've been with for over 2 years", she leaned forward resting her forearms on the table. "Why is that."
Bri watched as Audrina's eyes opened wide at the straightforward question. She hardly mentions Kieran to anyone. Bri has to ask the questions to dig deeper. The only time people know more than his name, is when they ask.
And even when they do, their is some hesitancy in Audrina's end.
"Odd question", she turned down, making her main focus the dish in front of her.
"Wouldn't be so odd if you bragged", she scoffed, "You know everything about my husband. I hardly know what Kieran does for a living."
A frown appeared on Audrina's face as she started picking at her food instead of actually putting anything on her fork. Bri saw her face turn, and felt there was something she'd miss.
"What he do?"
Audrina immediately shook her head. "He didn't do anything. I think that's the problem." Bri didn't say anything, allowing Audrina to continue. She hasn't told Kieran what's been bothering her. Feeling like it would be weird on her part to bring it to light. "He just seems ok with how long it's been since we've seen each other. I'm trying to not sound.... needy. But-.", she shrugged, taking another sip from her drink.
"I get it", Bri spoke sympathetically. Audrina hated the sound of her voice. Like her situation wasn't going to get any better. "You should probably tell him."
"He has a life. A job, and-."
Once again Bri cut her off, "Babe. Wake up.", Audrina looked up, her eyebrows shooting to the top of her head at that sudden change of voice. "If you don't think that at least half of his 'life' is not wrapped around you and making you happy, then you definitely need to talk to him."
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Audrina opened her front door. Once settling in, and taking a shower, she realized that the second member of the household had yet to make it home.
Walking down the stairs to the kitchen she called out his name multiple times. Taking it he was still hanging out with his friends. She took the time to gather strength and take her phone that was face down on the floor.
She quickly went to her contacts and the first person under her favorites, she hovered her thumbs over it for a few seconds. That is until mid- deep breath, she pressed it and drew the phone up to her ear.
Kieran never misses her calls. It was rare for him to not answer without giving a valid reason. If he was in a meeting,, he'd text and call back almost immediately after it ended. So she wasn't clear on why out of all the times she needed to talk to him about anything other than the typical "I miss you calls", it went to voicemail.
Furrowing her eyebrows, Audrina titled her head at the device. Unclear if she'd miss a message saying he couldn't talk at the moment. But nothing.
Bitting her bottom lip she contemplated on trying again. And when she was about to press the call button again, regretting not answering before, the alarm sounded to indicate someone coming through the front.
"Audri?", Momoji's voice came from the front door.
"Kitchen!", Audrina quickly put her phone in her back pocket. Breaking from her thoughts. When he peaked around the corner, two bright yellow eyes, with a new excitement.
"Hey", Audrina put on a fake smile. Her hair now pulled back making it hard to cover. "Out late?"
Momoji's bright energy filled the kitchen area. He stopped before her, with his own bright smile. "Yea! Me and....", he hesitated for a second, locking his lips as if he was about to spill a secret. Then he returned the smile, "A friend. Yes! We were studying for a test."
Audrina nodded, walking around the kitchen to start a kettle boiling for tea. When Momoji followed her, she heard him speak again. "We should go out and do something."
"Like what?", she questioned, already finding she was relaxed for the evening. But after taking Momoji in as his guardian she find it hard to say no to him.
"Ice cream!", he perked. Which Audrina couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sure.", she turned it the stove and grabbed her keys.
It was about an hour that they were out. Audrina momentarily forgot about earlier and her still unanswered phone call. There was still no text from Kieran. And right when she stepped into the house, it flooded back into her head like it was a fresh occurrence.
When in reality it's been a couple of hours since she called. Making her heart sink a little.
"Now", she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. It's become harder to hide it, the longer the thought lingered in her mind. What could he be doing? She regretted not answering his texts and calls till later because it feels she is getting what she paid for. She was looking into the fridge, scanning what ingredients were left given they only got ice cream, "What do you want for dinner?"
"Surprise me."
Audrina froze in her position. View obscured by the door of the fridge, her heart rate immediately started picking up. That wasn't Momoji's voice.
It wasn't a stranger either.
And yet, all that built up want to be in his presence again, wasn't enough to move and confirm it.
"What are you doing here?", her voice was low, so low that if he hadn't walked up behind her he wouldn't have heard it. She wasn't even aware that the fridge was still open. Her focus was at the ground.
"In the neighborhood.", Kieran's voice sounded behind her. She hadn't seen him in so long that even turning around was riling her nerves.
"Now.", she turned finally. Trying to restrain herself from falling into his grasp. "What are you doing here now?"
Kieran's eyes narrowed seeing the tear that was threatening to break. He was quick to pull her into a much needed hug. One that she couldn't help but melt into. With her head against his chest, the prior faint feeling of loosing touch of his grasp returned.
"I'm sorry", he whispered, into her hair, "I was trying to-."
She pulled from his grasp to look into his eyes. Hers slightly stained with tears, he sighed out at view. He didn't like it. And while Audrina thought that he didn't feel anything from them being apart for so long. She could see it. The tint of hurt and relief.
Catching him off the middle of his sentence, Kieran moved his hands to cup either side of her cheek. "I'm sorry."
She placed a hand over one of his, "Why?"
"Remember what we talked about right when you moved out here."
She squinted thinking about all the talks they've shared since his visit. And only one that stuck out really was brought to the surface. Slowly she nodded, "And I specifically remember telling you that, I can't have you do that. This was my choice for work."
She spoke slowly. Reiterating what she said to him when he suggested to live together.
"Kieran", she grabbed on to each of his wrist when he didn't say anything. In that same slow speaking she repeated, "You can't do that. We haven't even talked about-."
"My job. My family?"
"Exactly", she stressed. "Let me remind you that Japan is your home. You have a whole firm you built from the ground up. Kieran listen to me."
She said that last sentence because all he was doing was smiling softly. In a quick motion he leaned in and gave her a kiss. She was captured in it, not realizing that he dragged her from hiding behind the fridge to the kitchen stool. One that she was settled into.
"I saw you at the café yesterday.", he said once releasing from the kiss.
Audrina'a eyes widened. She was going to question him but he continued.
"I was going to surprise you then but, I saw that guy talking to you. And let's just say, I was underestimating how long I can go on without you physically in my life."
She shook her head, "You're not listening to yourself."
"But I am.", he leaned down to meet her, "You don't want to listen to me."
"Because it's crazy.", she huffed. "Look I tried calling you today because I wanted to see why it's been so long that you visited.", she stood from the seat. They were just a step away from each other, Audrina crossing her arms.
With a serious face, Kieran looked down to her, "We both knew that eventually we'd have to talk about this. What can I do to convince you?"
"Don't look at me like I'm the villain", she placed a finger pointing on his chest, "You don't know the area, and you still haven't went into detail about your life in a whole different country."
Kieran just lifted an eyebrow. She watched as he shrugged his shoulders, and pulled out his phone. As he was searching through he said, "When you left and I didn't wake up to you by my side the next day it hurt. I hated it. Don't assume I didn't put some thought into this."
When he was done, he turned the phone around to flash the screen. "What is this?", she grabbed the phone and brought it closer. Kieran had a smile on his face as he wrapped an arm around her and leaned his head to rest on hers.
"If you read it.", he huffed placing a kiss on her temple.
She read it. But, the problem was understanding if it was real. She still pretended to go over it was few more times. Like the second time would change the wording. When she still didn't say anything, Kieran started explaining.
"You forget that, clients I help win cases, know other people. Got in contact with someone in this area, you claim I don't know. And push comes to shove..."
"This is one of our biggest competitors in holding clients.", she whispered under her breath. On the screen was paperwork in getting situated with a job offer. For him.
"I will probably enjoy it a little too much seeing you on the other side. You never fail to surprise me in a court room." , he hummed.
After another hour of back and forth between the two. Audrina finally came to terms with what he was offering.
When they were both on the couch Audrina, leaning in the inner crook of his shoulder. The alarm to the front door opened.
"Did she say yes!?", Momoji ran in. "Will you be staying!"
She scrunched her eyebrow lifting her head to the man right beside her. "You had Momoji in on it?"
He chuckled, "How did you think I got in the house.", and with a tilt of his head and looked back at the boy who was anticipating an answer.
"I'm staying."
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A/n:
Y'all want a proposal or a court case where they are on opposing sides ( I thought the idea would be fun) for an epilogue.
Or something else 👀