The Knight Prince

Chapter 7

    “Ok, this is us.” Kiki hopped on her feet in front of the door labeled 134. “I’m so excited you’re moving in!” Yanking at the tail of a long green lanyard that hung from the pocket of her loose cargo pants, she presented an apartment key hidden within at least four keyrings depicting various anime characters. When she caught Ari ogling at them, Kiki grinned sheepishly, shrugging as she ran her hand through her short brown hair.

    Clearing her throat, Ari smiled, “Me too,” Well, a lot of things had been exciting since coming from Saratoga county to the City. Aside from chatting with that gorgeous guy in the café, for a girl who had grown up in more of a country setting, just riding the subway for the first time was crazy exciting!  Even standing next to a guy with enough piercings and black make-up and hair dye to make any goth swoon, surprisingly didn’t freak her out nearly as much as it should have.

    Kiki continued to ramble, “It’s perfect you’re moving in! Our other roommate, Quincey, bailed on us last month when she got married and moved away to Tennessee because her new hubby got a job in Chattanooga. Can you believe that? Moving from NYC to Chattanooga?" She rolled her eyes. Ari wondered why that was a crazy thing as Kiki took a breath and continued, "Anyway, so we’ve been hunting for a new roomie since then.”

    “Well, I’m happy to be your roomie, too. But, who is this ‘we’ you’re talking about?” Ari asked as she followed Kiki through the door. Her cousin flipped on the light switch near the entrance, which immediately illuminated the small living room area.

    The décor screamed starving-student with its aged furniture crowded around a square coffee table that faced a decent-sized television. Further in, a small kitchen branched off at the left where a round faux-wood dinette table with two chairs and stool sat. Every flat surface was cluttered with laptops, books, and notebook paper.

    “Yeah, this is a three-roomer with just me and my other roommate, Jewel,” her voice lilted as she waved her to follow. “Sorry for the mess. I wasn’t expecting company, and my and Jewel’s lives have been revolving around term papers, studying, and our jobs.” She checked her watch. “You’ll meet Jewel soon. She's probably just around the corner, now. She's a waitress at Tio’s Diner not far from Sweet Tooth.” She grabbed Ari’s hand. “Let me give you the grand tour.”

    A grand tour that consisted of everything she saw in the front room, a dinky kitchen, then down a short hallway that branched off into three small rooms and a bathroom that could maybe fit two people at once. They ended up in what Kiki designated as her room and planted herself on the bare bed with a bounce before propping herself back on her elbows.

    “All the furniture came with the place, so this bed belongs to the apartment complex, but we’ll need to get you blankets and stuff. I have some spare ones until you can buy your own.” She pointed at Ari’s backpack. “Is that all you brought with you?”

    “Um, yeah. I really wanted to get here, and I really didn’t want anyone to stop me from coming,” Ari made a face as she slipped the pack off her back and dropped it on the bed before taking a seat next to her cousin. “So, I just kinda packed whatever was a quick-grab and took off.”

    “Well, maybe we can get Aunt Renee to ship you some of your stuff?”

    “Not likely,” Ari groaned. “She was so pissed when I left. Following me around my room and screaming like some banshee about me being reckless. So, I am sure she’ll hold onto my things like a ransom ticket for me to go back.” She shrugged, “But I’m not worried. I was gambling that Aunt Eva would help me, and she did, making me one of New York City’s newest baristas at the fabulous Sweet Tooth,” she smiled. “And from that, I’ll eventually save enough money to get more stuff. I’m not worried.”

    “Or maybe just keep flirting with the customers and find yourself a sugar daddy?” Kiki simpered. When Ari shot her a questioning look, Kiki squinted, “Don’t act all innocent, Miss Reine. What was going on with Aiden Nicolet, huh?”

    A ghost of a smile graced her lips, “Oh, you must mean Mr. Arrogant d**k?”

    Kiki bolted to a sitting position; her eyes wide. “You do know who you were talking to, don’t you? You know who Adrian Nicolet is, right?” she chuckled incredulously, nearly choking on her obvious shock.

    “Honestly, Kiki? You expect me to know anything outside of Saratoga?” Ari rolled her eyes, “I’ve been living under a rock for most of my life, and a damn near boulder for the last two years. How am I to know who anyone is, let alone this Adrian Nicolet? I am lucky to even know who I am anymore!”

    “Ok, ok. True. But let me fill you in on your obvious social drought,” she hammed up as if getting ready to disclose the world's best kept secret, her hands moved wild as she talked, “Adrian Nicolet, the guy who you were overblown flirting with tonight—”

    “---I wasn’t flirting!” Ari burst as cheeks flushed red.

    “Oh, sweetie. You were. But listen,” she fluttered her hands, as if swatting that fact to the side. “Adrian Nicolet is one of New York’s young, hottie billionaire most eligible bachelor guys. Didn’t you see the girls in the café giving you stink-eye all night? They were raging jealous.”

“Um, no,” she rubbed her hand across the back of her neck. “I wasn’t paying attention.” There wasn’t much else she could pay attention to, not with Adrian sitting across from her. Because, holy f*****g wow, who could not be staring at a man who oozed with that much s*x appeal. Just thinking about his striking green eyes, perfect face, and kissable lips had her nether regions pulsing with heat. “Do you think I overstepped? I mean, I didn’t know who he was, but he clearly needed someone to talk to.”

    “Ok, Cous,” Kiki full-on laughed. “Rule number one in New York City… do not coddle strangers, no matter how much you think they just need someone to talk to!” Her eyes took on a devilish glint. “Rule number two, if you flirt with a billionaire and he doesn’t run, keep talking and reel that big fish in!”

    “That’s not what I was doing, Kiki,” she chided. “I didn’t mean to flirt with a billionaire. I was just thinking he could use a soundboard… needed a good listener…  It looked like he and his girlfriend just had a fight, so I was just trying to be nice.”

    “Right,” her eyes squinted. “With that little cupcake wars thingy going on?” She batted her lashes, “And all the doe-eyed smiles. You seriously looked like a fangirl.”

    “Ugh, did I?” She bit her lower lip.

    “Hey. I don’t blame you,” she looked at her pointedly. “I speak from the kindest, deepest point of my green jealous heart when I tell you… you lucky bitch.” She nudged Ari, “And by the way, he was looking at you, too. I, for sure, thought he’d be taking you home, or out, or at least getting your number. Didn’t he ask you?”

    Ari replayed her last moments with Adrian, swooning within a sigh, remembering how his delicious body looked when it moved, or how it felt when he touched her. It was like all the nerves in her hand exploded, shooting a bolt of electricity up her arm and flooding her chest. And his cologne had her like, wow. It must have been expensive with how it just drew her in and shot her soul straight to cloud nine. Damn, he smelled good.

    She should have stopped her memory reel right there, kept it stuck on when they stood at the door, when he touched her. But what happened after that kinda slithered its way into her happy thoughts before she could yell cut!

    After the sparks flew, and her heart nearly murdering her chest, it clearly was an unrequited event. Because Adrian backpedaled away when that happened, gaping at her like she was some sort of leper, and racing off to a car that had been waiting for him at the curb.

    Ari frowned in admittance, “No, he didn’t ask for my number. He actually kept acting like he wanted to leave.” Who was she kidding? Even when she was sitting opposite him, dreaming as any girl would that this beautiful man would be into her, there was one sordid fact, “But why would he even ask for my number or be at all interested? He’s him, and I’m... I’m just me.”

    “Are you kidding?” Kiki coiled her finger with one of Ari’s long blonde strands of hair. “You’re a hottie yourself.”

    “But he’s Mr. Billionaire and I’m little Miss Backpack,” she nodded back to her bag. “We’re basically two different species.”

    “Stop selling yourself short. And a poor girl isn’t a different species than a hot, rich man.” Kiki was about to say something more but was cut off when a woman’s head bobbled into view, her dark curls suddenly popping into the open bedroom doorway. Her eyes shifted cautiously between Ari and Kiki before her body slid into view. The short yellow uniform dress proudly displaying the name Tio’s  set off the soft brown hue of her skin and showcased a great pair of toned, athletic legs. “Hey, Jewel,” she piped. “Meet our newest roomie, and my dearest cousin, Ariana.”

    “Ariana? A new sister-roomie?” Her eyes settled on Ari as she walked over to her. And without warning, she wrapped her into a hug. “Welcome, welcome!” She smelled like a six-hour shift of greasy food, but Ari didn’t care, nor did she start smelling her up like a certain billionaire she knew. Jewel mewed, “Yay! We have a club buddy again!” Then she pulled away abruptly, pointing her finger into Ari’s face. “But you need to swear you aren’t going to get married to some guy named Todd and move to Chattanooga on us!”

    Ari laughed, “I promise I won’t run away with some guy named Todd. Or any guy for that matter.” She didn’t come to New York City to hook up, after all. This was all about figuring out what happened to her brother.

    “Yeah, whatever. Adrian Nicolet is going to be her Todd.” Kiki feigned a perturbed expression. “Just watch.”

    “Wait. What?” Jewel’s dark brown eyes popped, “What did I miss?”

    After Kiki and Jewel helped her settle in for the night, letting her borrow some bedding and even a bath towel that she totally didn’t even think to pack, but duh, would totally need, Ari showered and settled into bed. As she stared up at the light, thinking about everything that had happened to her in the last twenty-four hours, she realized she very well might be completely nuts for just up and leaving her home.

    At least, that is what the lingering anxiety goaded at her now. Coming to the city with only a backpack, with only the hope that things would work out? Who does that? Yet, even as the angst started to convince her that she should probably just go back home, a pair of stark green eyes popped into her mind, lulling away any thought other than Adrian Nicolet. Her shoulders instantly relaxed, tension bleeding out in a soft sigh.

    No, she wasn’t ready to go home. Not yet.

    After taking off the beaded smoky quartz bracelet and placing it on her bed stand, Ari eyed the light switch across the bedroom near the door before her fingers flicked gently. Simultaneously, the toggle dropped down and the lights went out.

    In the morning, Ari had breakfast with Kiki and Jewel, which consisted of toasted bagels and orange juice and plenty of witty conversation between the seasoned roommates, before the two of them headed off to campus. Although she wished she were going with them, going to school, it just wasn’t something she could afford at the moment. Or ever? Besides, she promised Aunt Eva she would be at Sweet Tooth to help with opening the shop. Which, in a way, was kinda like an internship if she counted practicing with her baking.

    When Aunt Eva agreed to let her help make the pastries, she jumped at the chance, eager to learn new techniques as well as add her own personal touches. Besides, she needed to perfect an earth-shattering dessert before Adrian visited the shop again.

    Yet, it seemed she had plenty of time to master the perfect sugary confection, because it had been two weeks now since he had come into Sweet Tooth.

    During the first week, she couldn’t get him out of her mind, and it was driving her crazy to the point she had burnt a few batches of cookies and Aunt Eva nearly put her on janitorial duties. So, hustling to see who entered the café anytime the little bell jingled wasn’t the best idea, she was quick to realize.

    Since Kiki had mentioned Adrian was a something of a New York celebrity, the internet was as close as she could get to him, so she scoured through the gossip rags, stalking his past and recent sightings, scowling at the different women latched onto his arm at various parties and gatherings. 

    But feeling jealous was simply outrageous, since she hardly knew the guy, and shared only an hour of his life as well as a half-eaten cupcake and his cappuccino. And looking at the type of women he dated also threw a big red flag in her face. They were supermodel gorgeous and looked like they swam in money, just like the woman he brought into Sweet Tooth that night, women who were in his league. A league she was far from.

    Even as she worked on perfecting this damn cinnamon roll that she was making for him, hoping he would have the chance to sink into heaven when he bit into the soft bread, his tongue relishing in the flavors of a perfect mixture of sugars and cinnamon that swirled within the icing, she had little hope that he would enjoy it.

    Every day she would make something special for him and set it aside, hoping to see him. And every night, she would end up taking it home because he never came by. Although Kiki and Jewel enjoyed the treat, and now anticipated one every night, she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it along with them. With a half-smile, she would serve it up, watch them gobble it glee, which was the reward of any pastry chef, to have happy consumers. Yet, she knew there was only one consumer that would really make her happy.

    During the second week and Adrian still hadn’t popped in, Ari began to accept the ugly truth, the truth she had known since the beginning.

    He wasn’t interested. He wasn’t coming back to the shop, at least not to see her.

    Maybe Kiki read him wrong when she had said Adrian liked her, too?

    Obviously, Ari realized she had been holding onto her cousin’s words too tightly, enough so that she believed them, but now it was time to let her little crush go. He had his life to live, and she had hers. Holding on to a fantasy would only get her another batch of barbecued cookies and distract her from figuring out where her brother was.

    But even trying to track Xavier down was just as futile as scoring another visit from Adrian. What was she thinking of trying to do this all on her own? Her only hope to get any information was from Michelle, who had gone radio-silent ever since Ari arrived in the city.

    Already, she had left her sister-in-law countless voice messages, hoping she would call her back. And everyday was like this now. Would Adrian stop by? Would Michelle call back? Would the police detectives come up with a new lead in Xavier’s case? She felt like she was in an endless, aimless limbo-loop.

    While finishing up on a cinnamon roll, sitting back and marveling as the icing cascaded perfectly down the sides of the pastry in a sugary waterfall, Aunt Eva peeked over the top of her shoulder.

    “Now that looks tasty. Maybe even too pretty to eat! I can’t believe you’ve made twenty of those.” She tilted her head, eyeing her, “You taking that one home?” Ya, she can't hide anything from her aunt.

    Ari smiled, “Um, No.” Step one in getting over a crush: Don’t feed it. “We can put this one in the dessert case for some lucky New Yorker to enjoy.”

    “You sure?” Ugh- auntie, don’t make this harder than it is.

    “Yep!” Ari jumped off the stool and then carefully picked up the pastry with her gloved hands. After finding a good spot for it in the dessert gallery, she quickly slid the glass door before she changed her mind. Because even as she walked away, the pastry screamed at her to set it aside for Adrian.

    “I’ve got something for you,” Aunt Eva said. “Follow me to the office?”

    When they entered the backroom, her aunt pointed to a cardboard box on the desk, urging her toward it. As Ari approached, she noticed the cursive words running across the top of it penned in black sharpie. It was her mother’s name. Cassidy Kerry.

    “This was my mom's?” Ari breathed. Her mother was dead, yet still lived on inside this box. 

    “Yes, and I know she would want you to have it.” Aunt Eva reached out to the box, though wary at first, appearing as if the box were going to electrocute her or something if she touched it, but then she eased as her hand settled, her fingers brushing over a few letters of her mother’s name. “Your Aunt Renee didn’t want anything of Cassidy’s at her house. So, this has always been here, with me. But it’s not mine to keep anymore, now that you’re here.”

    “What’s in it?”

    “It’s been a long, long time since that box has been packed,” Aunt Eva admitted. “I don’t even remember what’s inside.” Ari studied her aunt’s face, realizing something about her in that very second. She hadn’t moved on at all from her mother’s death. The pain was still grooved into the lines of her face; it still darkened the light of her eyes.

    “Thanks, Aunt Eva.” Ari said softly. Her aunt nodded shortly, but then cleared her throat and turned away.

    Hoarsely, “The morning rush is about to begin. Time to get back out there,” she muttered as she left.

    "I'll be there soon." Ari stared at the box much the same as her aunt just had. With the desire to open it. But equally, feeling just the right amount of angst to leave it closed and let the dead remain at peace.

    Tracing along the lip of the lid, her fingers barely moving underneath it, Ari flinched away from the box as the cellphone in her back pocket started to ring. s**t! She shook her head at her skittishness as she grabbed at the blaring device.

    Glancing at the screen, her heart jumped into her throat when she read the name. Ari ripped the plastic gloves off her hand, her fingers shaking as pressed the button to answer the call.

    “Michelle?!”