Chapter 138

Emma's POV 

 "I'm almost led to conclude that you have similar taste with someone I know." I said as I entered his furnished high rise apartment somewhere in the heart of Massachusetts. 

Kevin was leaving the life. I wondered why he'd be bothered about college kids, even though he was supposed to be one. 

 "Well, they've got high taste and expect their employees to too." He explained, 

The home was digital and all it took was a fingerprint house security unpick to open, and voice commands to turn things on and off. 

It's the first time I'd been in such an apartment. 

 "You really are the only one here?" I asked. The place looked a little too spacious. 

 "That's unless you want to keep my company." He replied and went into some inner room

I busied myself with looking around. 

The house was just splendid. 

It felt like heaven. I understood that his home had to be extra comfortable, cause it was both a home and an office. 

 "I'm happy for you, Kevin." I said as he re-entered. 

He brought water, but not in glasses like I gave him, it was sparkling water, from his wall-installed freezer. 

 "I see you've grown quite fancy too." I joked. 

 "Taste is acquired, Em." He poured me a glass, "We are humans, very adaptable." He added. 

 "Almost everyone I know has got their shit going." I started. "I am yet to know what I really want for myself." I said, taking the grandeur of his little palace all in. 

 "You don't have to feel pressured, Em. I'm here whenever you need, for as long as you need." He said, touching my shoulders. 

Kevin took his clothes off, and I was about to make some remark when I remembered that we were at his, not mine, so I swallowed my subtle protest. 

 "Guess who else told me that?" I asked, looking away. 

I don't like how I constantly threw HIM into conversations. It was yuck to me, but still I couldn't help it. It seemed like I had trouble getting over him, and in fact, I did. 

 "You're never gonna be in those shoes again." Kevin said. "Matter of fact, I feel like I have a lot of making up to do to you. We should spend some quality time together, at a beach or a park, or somewhere where time slows down, really. It's a pity that I've gotta be away from you for a whole ass week!" He punched the leather chair I sat on which just sent his fist bouncing right back. 

 "Work calls." I smiled sadly. 

 "I want you to know, Em, that if I could pass this up, I would. Only the absolute necessities would tear me away from you." Kevin kept looking into my eyes, as if to make sure his words had the wanted effect. 

 "That's sweet." I said, looking away. 

 "What ideas do you have?" He asked, "I've gotta start packing, sadly, but I wanna listen to you talk while I do that. Your voice is the best music I could have on." He tore his headset away from his neck where he'd hung it. 

 "Would that be here?" I asked, referring to the living room. 

 "Inside, sadly." Kevin replied, sarcastically beaming, "I've lived for the day I'd see you grace my apartment this way." He added, standing back and watching me take the directions he gave. 

With every step I took, I know I was fooling a little too much. 

What if one thing led to another and…? I fought the bad thoughts, but they kept coming with more intensity, 'What if he begins to talk sexually?' I shrugged involuntarily, and he looked at me, confused. 

Kevin's room was as big as my living room, it's the only reason he could accommodate all he had in it and still have so much space. 

 "Can I ask you something I'd been meaning to ask?" He asked, as he lay a medium sized traveler's box on his wide king size bed. 

I sat somewhere on the other corner of the bed. 

 "What do you really think of me?" He asked. 

I gave it a moment to consider. 

 "Where did that come from?" I asked, surprised. 

 "Nowhere deep." He replied, without looking at me. He rolled up the clothes instead of folding them, and I made a mental note to ask him why he did that. "

 "I think you're a nice guy." I replied, still unsure about what to say. 

 "Nice guys always get the crumbs." He said, and folded a particular cloth a little too angrily. 

 "I think you're sweet." I added. "Did you have me here to sing your praises?" I asked him. 

 "Why would you even think of that?" Kevin burst out laughing, letting the clothes he'd just picked up fall from his hand. 

 "Cause it's the first thing you asked?" I replied to him. 

 "You can't blame me for wanting to know if I'm the rebound or not." He said, with less humor. 

 "Is that what you think?" I stood up and walked towards him." 

 "Sometimes, it's what it seems like. I don't care if I show it or not, but I'm a little paranoid when it comes to you." Kevin had stopped what he was doing, and tended to look everywhere but at me. It was time for him to be nervous. 

 "Kevin," I said, taking his hand, "You're a sweet guy. You've been with me through this stuff, even though you comfortably could've not. You gave me my first friend in this city. You talked to my crazy best friend, Lily, asking her stuff just cause you wanna make me happy," He looked at me, surprised, "yes she told me," I answered the quizzical frown on his face, "I'd never think of treating you that way, Kev. And I don't think I'm gonna tell you that I'd be counting down everyday till I see you next." I said, biting the inner part of my mouth to stop the tears that'd started coming to the surface, "I'll miss you." I added. 

Kevin closed the distance between and hugged me, a little too tight, and a little too long. 

 "I think you've got stuff to do."I broke the hug since he was so hesitant. 

 "Yeah." He replied a little inaudibly, "Thank you for agreeing to do this with me." He flashed a smile and continued. 

I was grateful, but I was also careful.