Kyle had picked up a serving spoon and removed the lid from one of the covered dishes when she asked her question. He froze for a split second, momentarily stunned by the directness of it. His eyes shot up to meet hers with a quizzical expression as he slid the spoon into the dish of spicy seafood and rice.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Of course,</span>he thought to himself,<span style="font-style: italic">every single day.</span><br/><br/>He turned the handle of the spoon towards Angie so that she could have the first helping if she liked. Smiling pleasantly at the memory of their time at the beach, Kyle squinted a little as he leaned back in his chair contemplating an answer.<br/><br/>He couldn’t tell her the truth – at least not bluntly anyway – or else she might think something fishy was going on. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable in any way, especially given the difficult time she has been going through lately. This trip was meant to be a vacation for her and not some kind of unwanted romantic set up. He decided the best way to reply was to be honest while waxing a bit philosophical about the whole thing.<br/><br/>“Yes… yes I do. We had a good run, you and I – even if it was short,” he added as he reached for his glass. “To old times,” he offered in toast, extending his glass forward for a clink.<br/><br/>“We become better, more interesting people as we get older. Overall your friendship has made me a better person, even if we weren’t meant to be together. I have no regrets,” he explained with a warm yet decidedly non-suggestive smile. He was trying his best to be a good friend again like they had been in the beginning.<br/><br/>He lifted the lid off of the second serving dish which held a different mixture of spicy chicken, rice and vegetables. The scents from the two entrees blended together deliciously, harmonizing together in the form of a classic southern home-cooked meal. Kyle spooned a portion of each onto his plate and scooped up a bit for a first taste.<br/><br/>“Could be a bit spicier,” he explained, critiquing his own work, “but overall not terrible. You think?” he asked after swallowing the forkful.<br/>As she tried her first bite he continued with another question. “Oh, and tell me – what do you like to do for fun these days? There’s just about anything you could want within an hour or two drive of here. Cultural sites, museums, amusement parks – you name it. We should plan on you getting out of the house a few times. I’m sure you’ll want to visit your family too, right? Are they still around the area?”<br/><br/>Kyle did his best to put her at ease with some friendly conversation.<span style="font-style: italic">God it’s good to be around you again, </span>he thought to himself,<span style="font-style: italic">even if we are only friends</span>.