Koda didn’t respond right away. When Felix was ready to turn away to take Koda home, Koda patted the bed beside him. “Sit back down, please. I’m not ready to give up yet.”
An unexpected smile snapped to Felix’s lips. He didn’t know if Koda wasn’t ready to give up on the boat ride or him yet. Either way, Felix was happy to oblige. “You’re so stubborn.” Even as he made the claim, Felix reclaimed his seat at Koda’s side.
Koda shrugged. “I can’t let this beat me. Let’s just talk some more. I can’t give up yet.”
Felix took Koda’s hand and held it between his. “I won’t let anything happen to you, but you’re picking our next date.”
A laugh burst from Koda. “Fair enough.”
Felix couldn’t stop smiling. He would sit there as long as Koda needed. Koda planned to give him a shot. Felix would make sure Koda never regretted it.
Three
After getting left at his front door unmolested again, Koda decided he needed to take control. He also needed help. That was why he had a hot towel covering his face while his mom worked on his nails. Of course, that meant he had been forced to admit Felix was more than a friend. His mom was here for it.
“By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll have men falling over themselves to get to you. Of course, they already do that.”
“I just don’t want to look dumb like I did this weekend.”
Elena removed the towel. “I can’t hear you through this thing.”
Koda tried again. “I just don’t want to look dumb like I did this weekend. Who gets sick on their first official date? I feel like an idiot.”
Elena snorted. “From the way you talked, it sounds to me like Felix feels terrible for taking you out on that boat. I’m sure he doesn’t think you looked like an idiot.”
“Why are you scowling? I can feel you scowling.” Koda always knew when his mom was angry. He could feel the heat radiating from her.
At his question, he swore the air lightened. Elena laughed. “It’s nothing. I’m just being a mom. Anything could’ve happened to you out on that boat. I know you can take care of yourself, but still.”
Koda turned his face Elena’s way. This was too important to let her have doubts. “You know I wouldn’t have gone if I didn’t trust Felix completely.”
Elena rubbed his arm. “I know, baby. That’s why I’m not lecturing you. I told you it’s just the mom side of me. You’re my baby. Half of my heart. If anything happened to you, I’d crawl in the hole with you.” She sniffed. “Now. Felix took care of you and then didn’t try anything while you were feeling bad. That makes him better than about seventy-five percent of the dating pool. Let’s finish making you irresistible.”
“I honestly don’t know why I’m doing this. I’ve never cared how I look in the past.”
Elena scoffed. “That’s because you got my good genes. You don’t have to try, but there’s nothing wrong with pushing a man over the edge with how amazing you are when you put some effort into it.”
For a few minutes, Koda stayed still and quiet, letting his mom pamper him. Unfortunately, they were too close for Koda to stop the confessions from flowing. “I guess what I really meant is, I’ve never cared about anyone enough to care what they think.”
Elena went still. When she spoke, her tone didn’t match the intensity he felt vibrating from her. “So you care about this guy.”
Koda tried to be as nonchalant as possible. His mom could be pretty overwhelming when she wanted. If she knew too much about Felix, she would definitely butt in. “Yeah, I mean, we’ve known each other for several years. We’re starting out on a foundation of friendship. That’s not the same as anyone else I’ve dated.”
“Honey, you haven’t dated anyone.”
A smile exploded across Koda’s face. “I can’t help it I got your independent personality.”
Elena laughed. “And my sex drive.”
“No,” Koda cried while fighting back laughter.
“You’re such an easy mark.” The happiness in Elena’s voice kept him smiling. He knew he had a ridiculously open relationship with his mom, but he was so thankful for it. Without her willingness to be more than just a mom to him, Koda’s life would have been horribly dark and lonely. She was the one person he hadn’t been able to shut out.
The humor disappeared from Elena’s voice. “I wish I hadn’t pressed so hard about Zayn and you. He’s obviously always been way more interested than you are.”
“And now there’s a wrench in your friendship with his mom,” Koda finished for her.
“Hmm, I don’t know. I don’t think Hana knows what she wants for Zayn. Well, that’s not entirely true. She’d love it if he woke up tomorrow not gay, but that’s not happening. You were her second choice, since it would be like keeping his secret with our group—like fewer people would know or something.” Elena snorted. “As if no one can tell he’s gay. He’s pretty cocky. It’ll take someone strong to pin him down. That wasn’t my point, though. I wish I had seen what you really need isn’t someone who matches your over-the-top level of confidence.”
Koda fought the urge to admit he wasn’t confident in the least when it came to Felix. “What do I need?”
Elena leaned close and kissed his cheek. “A nice guy,” she said, wiping his cheek as if wiping away lipstick. “You won’t settle until you have someone kind.” She smacked his shoulder. “And stubborn. Woo, are you’re going to need a man that’ll stick to you no matter what because you can be trying.”
Despite Elena’s claims, he couldn’t stop laughing. He knew she was serious, but he couldn’t take it to heart. Koda swiped at his eyes and sighed. “I love you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I love you too, baby. Let’s get this finished. Life won’t solve itself today.”
That was true. He wouldn’t likely resolve every problem he faced with one chat. Koda felt better about life, though. He felt like he might not fail Felix immediately. However, next week might be a different story.
Felix swore he felt Koda come through the door before he saw him. He had known Koda was on the recording schedule for the day. Felix hadn’t expected his immediate reaction to seeing Koda again. He hadn’t seen Koda since he left Koda at his front door after their boat date. They had sent a few texts back and forth, but they hadn’t made plans to see each other again. Now, as he watched Koda smile and speak to everyone as he stepped inside the studio, Felix found himself stricken anew by the overwhelming need to be in Koda’s company.