Chapter 7 We Need To Talk

• Minutes later, the food was ready. Leila set the tray on the table, her smile, big and bright as she marched to the study to get her husband. She met him on a call. His voice was so low she barely heard a word he said. She leaned on the doorframe, a small smile on her face as she watched him massage his forehead. Even when disturbed, he looked cute. They might get along.
• The call ended and he turned to her. Leila smiled, ready to speak but he cut her off. “What do you want?”
• Wow. His words were like ice poured over her, she took a subconscious step out of the study. Her hand curved in the direction of the dining.
• “Dinner is ready.” She tried and failed to smile but his reaction hurt her. Here she was, trying to be a good wife and he was being rude. “I came to tell you that.”
• She was a few steps out of the study when he called her. “Leila.” She stopped but didn’t turn. If he would be rude to her, she didn’t want to be around him. “Sorry for raising my voice.”
• Hiding a smile, she nodded and went ahead to the dining. Minutes later, Kelvin joined her. They sat opposite each other, she dished the food and they ate quietly. She tried to start a conversation a few times but the words dried up each time she looked at him.
• She couldn’t tell what mood he was in. “Leila,” Kelvin started. Her head jerked up, she squeezed her lips as he tried to form a statement. “Back there, the...” His short, brown hair fell over his forehead, she fisted her hand under the table to stop herself from pushing it out of the way. “The call riled me up. I didn’t mean to be rude.” Warmth spread through her chest and a smile lifted her lips. “Sorry.”
• “Want to talk about it?” She shoved a spoonful of rice into her mouth. Kelvin observed her. It felt like he was staring at her for hours but in truth, only seconds had passed. He shook his head and she couldn’t help the disappointment that flickered through her. “Okay.”
• After dinner, he offered to do the dishes. She couldn’t protest, her arms were tired and she was still in her work clothes. They carried the plates to the kitchen, she sat on the stool while Kelvin gawked at the sink filled with dirty plates and the pot she used for cooking.
• Turning on the sink, water ran down the plates and Leila brows furrowed when Kelvin didn’t reach for the sponge and the bottle of dish washer by the window. Her mouth hung open when he rinsed a plate under the sink without washing it.
• What was he doing?
• “Have you ever done the dishes?” She had to ask.
• His reply didn’t come immediately, he held the plate he just rinsed mid-air, then dropped it back. “No.”
• Leila almost fell over the counter in shock. She jumped to her feet and covered the gap.
• “How come?”
• Kelvin shrugged. “There was always someone to do it.” At her blatant stare, he added, “My roommate took care of the kitchen while I took care of the finances.” She hummed in response. “It worked for us.”
• He was too defensive and it made her wary.
• Cooking and doing the dishes were among the basic things anyone should know. Kelvin stepped to the side as she squirted liquid wash into the sink and filled it with water. She stirred the water until it foamed. Without thinking, she bopped his nose, covering the tip with lather. Their eyes met for an awkward moment, she lowered her hand and muttered an apology.
• “I’ll take over from here,” he said as she was about to start. “Do you still feel dizzy?” She answered in the negative, he eyed her for a long second. “It’s time for you to rest. I’ll handle this.”
• Leila needed rest more than anything but she couldn’t leave him here alone. She knew she was right not to leave when a plate slipped through his palms to the floor, breaking into a hundred pieces. They exchanged another awkward glance, he crouched to pick the shards and she screamed.
• “Stop,” she yelled. He looked up. “I’ll get a broom.”
• She refused his help in sweeping up his mess. For all she knew, he might have no idea how to use a broom.
• When the floor was clean, she moved over to the sink but he stopped her. “Please, let me do it.” He pried the plate from her, ran the sponge over it the way she did the first time. “Like this, yeah?”
• She nodded. How could a man look so sexy washing plates? Her cheeks heated when he caught her staring, she looked away but her grin widened when she noted the smile he tried to fight off. Leila wanted to know him better than this, to have normal conversation.
• They would have to get a dishwater but she didn’t think it necessary for a family of two.
• “Leilani. Do you know what the name means?” Kelvin rinsed off the last batch of plates and dried his hands on the napkin while waiting for her reply. She hadn’t put much thought into the meaning of her name. Thinking about the name meant remembering them and she didn’t want to remember. “Child of royalty. Heavenly flower.” She didn’t know that. “Which one are you?”
• Arranging the plates into the top shelf, Leila replied, “None.”
• The atmosphere shifted, she felt him retreat into his shell at her cold response but she didn’t apologise. He set the towel on the counter and led her to the table.
• “We need to talk.”