"Tener cuidado, chica", the man warned kindly, "It's slippery out here. You could've fallen in."
Kori hummed in response and tried to quickly move around him, keeping her head down.
But, the man's hands remained firmly on her shoulders. "I can't get a thank you, cariño?", he inquired.
Kori shook her head in response. She had already been near him for too long. If she spoke, she was definitely done for. She tried to push past him again, but the man wasn't letting up.
"Can't even look at my eyes, huh?", the man hummed. A pause. "Don't tell me you've gotten shy since the last time I saw you, little red."
"Damn it", Kori cursed under her breath. She let out a quiet sigh before looking up at the face of the man she hadn't seen in close to five years. "Hey, Xavier", she greeted with a sheepish smile.
"Hey, Red", the man, newly revealed as Xavier, grinned, "Long time, no see. Te extrañé."
"I missed you too", Kori replied.
"Couldn't have missed me too much", Xavier snorted, "I extended an invitation to you. To Cali, remember? You didn't show."
"Yes, I remember", Kori sighed, "And don't say it like I blew you off. I told you I had a previous engagement."
"Yeah, with Roy", Xavier muttered, "I remember. Bahamas, right? How was it?"
"Good to see we both remember things", Kori laughed, "It was fun, though we were there for business. The sand was a little irritating but the sun was nice."
"There's sun in Cali", Xavier pointed out quietly.
"What was that?", Kori asked.
"Nothing, nothing", Xavier dismissed quickly, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. How is Roy, anyway?"
Kori shook her head in amusement. "I'll hang in Cali next time", she promised, "Or wherever else you wanna go."
"You didn't answer my question about Roy", Xavier pointed out.
"Because you didn't really want to know the answer", Kori laughed knowingly, "So, again, I'll hang with you next time."
Xavier looked at her for a moment, conveying his thanks through his gaze because he really didn't want to talk about Roy. "Yeah, you bet your ass you will", he huffed, "And the time after that, and the time after that time, and even the time after that time, and so on and so forth."
"You know", Kori began, "I don't think Carmen would appreciate that, Xavier."
"And I can say with complete certainty that I do not care", Xavier shrugged, "Carmen doesn't dictate who I spend time with."
"Oh, but you dictate who I spend time with?", Kori snorted.
"When you neglect me, hell yeah", Xavier scoffed, though he had a teasing smile on his face.
Kori shook her head and laughed. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?", she sighed fondly.
"Oh, but who would want me to change, sweetheart?", Xavier hummed smugly.
Kori pinched the bridge of her nose, laughing even harder.
Xavier grinned at her, pulling her into a hug. "I missed you", he confessed quietly.
"You said that already", Kori reminded teasingly.
"Just making sure you understand how much I mean it", Xavier shrugged, still not pulling away.
Kori rolled her eyes but accepted the hug all the same.
The peaceful moment didn't last for long, though.
"What the hell are you wearing?!"
Kori stiffened at the sound of the voice, eyes going wide. 'Shit', she cursed, hurriedly pulling away from Xavier. "Cashmere-", she began.
"Nova made her wear it", Xavier interrupted, "Art told me all about it."
Kori opened her mouth to agree before realization dawned on her. She narrowed her eyes and that told Xavier all he needed to see to translate what she was thinking.
You knew about this?
Xavier offered her an innocent smile but otherwise said nothing.
"Nova?", Cashmere echoed, "I'll kill her." He paused, a pained expression on his face. "You're all exposed, Kor."
Kori laughed at that. "Believe me, I said the same thing", she sighed, "But I guess that's what happens when your brother decides to host a pool party to celebrate his engagement."
"That's no excuse", Cashmere dismissed, "And what's up with the hug-fest?"
Kori winced at his tone.
But Xavier was unphased.
"I haven't seen my best girl in almost five years", he shrugged calmly, "I think I deserve a hug."
"Not when she's dressed like this", Cashmere argued, "Or should I say not dressed. Jesus, Kori."
Kori sighed irritatedly. "It's not like I asked Nova to-", she started.
"Yeah, yeah, I know", Cashmere interrupted, "I'll deal with her later."
Xavier was about to make a slick remark when someone else spoke up.
"Ooh, Kori, luciendo bien."
Kori fought the urge to roll her eyes in disdain.
Carmen.
"Thanks", she gritted out.
"Oh, no problem", Carmen grinned, "Doesn't she look hot, X."
A wicked expression spread on Xavier's face immediately. "Babygirl sobre fuego!", he exclaimed smugly.
"Watch it, Redd", Cashmere warned.
Xavier smirked at Kori discreetly before turning his attention to Cashmere. "Relax Cashy-boy, you know me", he grinned, "Only the purest intentions."
Cashmere only huffed at the statement.
"Besides, you know X only has eyes for me", Carmen said proudly.
Xavier fought the urge to roll his eyes, smiling dutifully. "Of course, lovely", he sighed, almost boredly.
Kori pursed her lips carefully, not wanting her expression to give anything away.
"So…", Cashmere began warily, "I take it that things are going well?"
He regretted asking immediately, wishing he would've just walked off, no matter how rude it seemed.
"Oh, things are going great", Carmen replied, "He just flew me out to Dubai last week, you know."
'And there it is', Kori muttered to herself, 'The bragging. Idiot wouldn't know modesty if it came up and bit her in the-'
"Isn't it great, Kori?", Carmen squealed giddily, "An impromptu trip to Dubai."
"So sweet", Kori smiled fakely, "I'm so proud of you, Xavier, being a token boyfriend."
Xavier gave her a dangerous look. He did not appreciate that she was egging Carmen on.
But Kori couldn't care less.
"Yeah, he is sweet", Carmen swooned, "I'm telling you, the place is beautiful. The beaches, the elephants, the-"
"I know, Carm, I've been", Kori interrupted, trying her best to keep the irritation out of her tone, "It's definitely an insane place to visit."
"I only wish I got a visit", Cashmere muttered, "I couldn't get a flight out, buddy?"
"You got a flight to Cali", Xavier pointed out, "As did your sister."
"Bahamas", Kori reminded, "I told you I'd come with, next time. Besides, don't try to put this on me. Cali is not Dubai."
"You're saying you would've come if the destination was Dubai instead of Cali?", Xavier questioned.
That wasn't what Kori was saying at all.
But Xavier didn't need to know that.
"Maybe I would've", Kori shrugged, "Pick it next time and we'll see."
Xavier opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Carmen.
"It's alright, Kori, we enjoyed the getaway anyway", she assured her, "Don't let Xavier guilt trip you. If worse comes to worst, I can always keep him company."
Kori clenched her jaw for a quick moment before releasing it and letting a serene smile spread across her face. "I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice your own personal time to make him happy in my absence", she said, almost robotically.
"Oh, it's no sacrifice", Carmen grinned.
"Carmen", Xavier said sharply, "Kori doesn't want to hear-"
"No, no, it's fine", Kori dismissed, "Ignore me. It's just weird for me because we grew up together and you were single for the longest time and now you're just… bam. Taking trips to Dubai, just like that."
Xavier only looked at her, something akin to pity in his eyes. Because he knew exactly why she was reacting the way she was.
And it certainly wasn't for the reason she'd provided.
She'd said to ignore her but he couldn't.
He could only remember.