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I had two options. Either I could grab her soaking wet, mostly naked body, and carry her back to the bathroom—I shuddered—or I could let her get into my bed and soak the whole thing, leaving me without a comfortable place to sleep tonight. Except…the futon. Hmm. It actually didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Still, I opted for the first choice.
I placed myself behind her, wrapping one arm around her stomach and using the other to fold her knees over, soaking my entire front. She kicked her feet, laughing and fussing as I carried her back and placed her in the tub.
“Who won?” Oli asked.
“Don’t be silly, Oli. You know I did,” Kai said, retaking her lateral position in the water.
I sat back down on the toilet and corrected her claim. “She did not. I tagged the bedpost first.”
“Nope. Doesn’t count because you cheated.”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
I lifted my pointer finger at her and raised my eyebrows to let her know I was getting serious. She gave me the most adorable cock-headed look in return, but I held my ground. Her eyes finally rolled in surrender, and for only a moment, everything was like it used to be.
Suddenly, a loud ringing began echoing off the tiled walls. Kai jumped at the noise, clutching a hand to her chest as she sucked in a gasp. Her blaring phone sat at the corner of the sink counter just next to me.
“It’s just your dad,” I said, checking the screen, suspicious yet calm in response to her reaction. “Do they know you’re here?”
She shook her head, her hand dampening some soundless calamity inside her chest.
“I got it.” Not only did she suddenly seem terrified and therefore in no mood to talk to anyone, but she wouldn’t tell her parents where she was if she picked up. She wouldn’t know how to. The conversation would probably go on for ten minutes without a single mention of her whereabouts.
“Oh, come on, Jo. I’m not a kid. I can do it.” She reached her hand out for me to pass the phone.
“Kai, you ran away from home to take a bath on a different continent. I got it.” Her face melted into a sheepish pout as I grabbed the phone and answered. “Hey, Paolo.” I stretched my legs in front of me and crossed my right foot over my left.
“What’s happening, my Jonah?” her father asked, recognizing my voice instantly.
I smiled at that. “Good. I’m good. You?”
“Very good.”
“I’m glad. Look, I have someone here with me you should talk to.” I glanced at Kai and clicked the speaker button, holding the device face up to the bathroom ceiling.
Kai projected from her position in the tub, hanging on the white rim with her head in her head. “Hola, papi.”
Paolo did not catch on to the situation. Not even a little. From what I understood, he answered her enthusiastically, in Spanish, saying hello and asking what she was up to. I genuinely thought he wasn’t going to realize at all until a woman’s voice sounded from the background.
“¡Kailyn Tamara Vitale Azuaje!”
Kai’s eyes shot to mine, and I had half a mind to tease her. She was so in for it.
“Hola, mami.”
Her mom muttered something to her father before clicking her tongue, sighing and, I believe, clarifying that Kai was obviously not in Madrid if I was the one who answered the phone.
The line went silent for a moment until Paolo’s voice came through once again. “Aaaa.” He understood. He then proceeded to ask Kai what the weather was like in California and if they’d finally put a stop sign up at the intersection by their old house. Kai lifted one hand to bury half her face and laughed.
I knew he was just happy she was here with us. He’d expressed his opinion several times before; really anytime one of my video calls with Kai aligned with a visit to her parents’ house. Paolo believed Kai should start thinking about getting back to California for good, and I agreed.
María, Kai’s mom, always said Kai needed more time and that she wouldn’t leave until she graduated at least. Sometimes, she would take the phone while Kai and I were talking and bring me to a private room where she’d tell me not to worry, that she would come when she was ready.
I desperately hoped she was right.
