•Chapter 18

                                    

                                          
POV: Aurelia
                          
"You know, you should come to the café, Kate and Iris want to meet you"
                          
Kai and I walk with intertwined hands along the beach where we met for the first time, but this time with Koba and Baloo. It's reasonably sunny and there's almost no wind. 
                          
"Really? Do they know we're together?" asks Kai to me with his other hand in front of his face to prevent the sun from getting into his eyes. 
                          
"No, but the group chat was exploding one day and they thought I had an admirer, so then I had to explain that I met some footballers and now they want to meet you, even though they don't know who you are".
                          
"Interesting, I'll ask the lads if they want to come along one day" he says with a soft laugh.
                          
We walk on quietly, because I can't really answer that. Kai and I make these walks regularly with our dogs. It is a nice way to spend time together.
                          
"Kai?"
                          
"Hmm" Kai stops for a moment and turns his head to me "What's wrong?"
                          
"I do want to tell Claire that we are together, but tonight is their moving party already and I want it to be about them, you know, I don't want it to be about us". This had been in my head for a while and it had to come out.
                          
He takes my chin between his fingers and looks at me intensely "You don't have to tell her yet, if you'd rather keep it quiet for a while it's okay with me, I'm always on your side".
                          
I take his face between my hands. "Thank you, I really appreciate it".
                          
He smiles and then gives me a kiss, which shows that he is always there for me.
                          
"Come on, let's go home, or we'll lose Baloo and Koba if they run any further" he takes my hand and walks closer to the dogs, who wander freely in front of us.

                          
•••
                          
This is the last time we will be in Timo's house before they move. I am going to miss Claire terribly, but she had promised to visit me often. Which is very good. 
                          
"If you need me, know that you can always call me" Claire says as she hangs up the last of the decorations. 

                          
She asked me if I wanted to help prepare the party, and who says no to planning a party. "I know, I'm just going to miss you a lot" I sigh and plop myself down next to her on the couch.
                          
"And how is it with you and Kai and don't lie, because I know how you two look at each other" my best friend says as she changes the subject. 
                          
A pink blush works its way up my cheeks. She must have noticed, because she starts screaming like crazy "I knew it, I knew it! Are you two together?" she says super excitedly. 
                          
So much for my plan not to tell her yet.
                          
I say nothing, so the silence gives it away, what is the point of lying about it?

                          
"Since when? Omg, I still need to recover from this shocking news. Why didn't you tell me?" Here's her dramatic moment, I'll miss that side of her too.

                          
"Because you were in the middle of moving and you might have been busy and I also didn't want to say it today, because today is all about you and Timo, I'm sorry" I say as I give her an apologetic look.

                          
"Girl, don't worry about that. You could have said it at any time, but I'm so happy for you!" she gives me a hug and asks me something more "Does anyone else know?" 

                          
I shake my head no. "The intention was to keep it quiet for a while, so nobody knows, except you".
                          
"Okay, wow, I'm still not over this confession, but let's get ready, because the party is going to start in an hour!" she shouts as she dances around happily.