Chapter 17

KATE.
"Here's your order. " I pushed the woman's cup over to her then pointed her to the register, where Cassie handed her the change.
Bailey had asked me to come over so we could catch up on stuff and also so I could help her at the shop. So this was us killing two birds with a stone.
Bailey and I were currently attending to customers while Cassie manned the register. We all worked in harmony. I thought it was exciting –attending to customers.
Bailey exhaled, slumping against the counter, "Now that we've finally attended to them all, let's talk about yesterday. Did you have fun? "
I grinned at her, "I did. "
She hopped on the counter behind her, "Come on, I want the deets. "
"Well.... " I hesitated, glancing at Cassie unsurely. She was a cool person and I absolutely liked her, but I didn't know how much she knew about me and I didn't want to put Drew's business out there like that. He was a public figure after all.
Bailey rolled her eyes, "Cassie's cool as a cucumber, don't worry. She won't leak anything to the press. "
I turned to Cassie with my brows raised as if asking for permission.
She laughed lightly, "I wouldn't leak your private business to the press, Kate. But just to make you feel better, I'll be out back getting refills. " then she strode through the back door. Her leaving did make me feel better.
"Okay, spill. " Bailey leaned forward slightly.
I leaned on the counter, placing my hands on top of it, "You know how I always tell you Drew has that asshole act to cover up how he actually is? "
"Yeah. " she nodded.
"Well, it turns out I was right. He was so good to me yesterday. Letting me do what I want and all that. "
Lines appeared between her brows, "Are you saying he let's you take control in bed? "
"What? No. " so that's what she thought I was talking about.
"Good. Because I would've been really dissapointed. " she crossed her arms, "I don't peg Drew for the type of guy who'd let a woman take control in bed. "
I pursed my lips. That might be true though. And a discussion we'd have to have later, "We didn't have sex though. "
"You didn't? " she looked at me disbelievingly.
"Nope. "
"Then why'd you spend the night at his place? "
I sighed, "Just because I spent the night at his place doesn't mean we have to have sex, Bailey. "
She wiggled her brows suggestively, "It does for me. "
I laughed because yes, it did for her. "You're such a ho. "
She frowned, placing a hand over her chest in mock hurt, "Hey, don't judge. "
"Right. Right. " I snorted, rolling my eyes.
Bailey was the type of girl that took her pleasure wherever and whenever she wanted it. She was fun and adventurous and sometimes, I envied that about her. I had a tendency to over think anything I did to death but Bailey wasn't like that. She'd just act, consequences be damned.
And a lot of people labeled her however they wanted to just because of that. I'd watched a lot of guys flip when they found out she just wanted them for one night and didn't want to take things further.
One time, she asked me, "Kate, why is it that they don't understand that all I wanted was one night? "
And I'd told her, "Bailey, you have to understand that sometimes, people want more even if that's not what you bargained for. "
She replied, "But that's their problem. They should know better than to tell me about it. "
And I'd told her, "The heart wants what it wants. "
Most men thought she was a prostitute because of her no commitment issue. She acted like she was okay and didn't need men in her life, but I knew better. She'd been hurt by someone and she just needed a person that would prove to her that not all men are scumbags.
Jeez, Kate, look at you. One week in a relationship and you're already the relationship expert.
I laughed lightly.
"So, come on, you guys didn't really have sex? He didn't try to take things further? " she probed.
I knew Bailey. She wasn't going to stop until she got what she wanted. So I decided to answer her.
"He did take things further and I did too. But for some reason, I kept holding back. "
"Maybe you're just not ready? " she suggested.
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just scared. " I admitted softly.
She nodded at me, her eyes turning soft, "You'll get there when you get there. Don't put pressure on yourself. "
I laughed because really, it was funny, "Look at you giving advice on abstinence. " I teased.
She blanched instantly, her face contorting in pain.
I figured I might have gone too far with the joke. This topic was probably a sore spot for her no matter how tough she tried to act all the time, "Oh my God. I'm sorry, Bailey. " I rushed over to her, putting my hands on her shoulders, "I only meant it as a joke. We do that all the time. "
She nodded, eyes still wide with a slightly haunted look, "I know that. It's just.... " she shook her head, trailing off, unable to complete what she'd been about to say.
I clutched her shoulders, shaking her slightly, "It's just what? "
She opened her eyes but they were still unfocused, "It's just.... That's something my ex boyfriend used to tease me with all the time. " she sucked in a shaky breath, "Until he finally broke up with me. "
That hit me somewhere deep down inside me. That's how I knew how much I cared about Bailey. It hurt like I was the one it affected directly when really, it wasn't. And what hurt me more was the fact that I'd been the cause of her thinking about her ex. Shit. I really needed to be careful about the kind of things I said to Bailey. She went around with this bravado mask but only I knew how fragile she really was underneath. Maybe even more fragile than I was.
I stepped between her legs, tightening my hands around her in a hug, "I'm so sorry, Bailey. I'm sorry what I'd only intended as a joke brought memories of your asshole ex. Because that's what he is. " I looked up at her, placing my chin on her chest, "He's an asshole, Bailey. "
She stared at me a moment then sighed, "It's okay, Kate. Really. I'm stupid for even letting him get to me like that. "
"No, you're not. It's totally normal. " I said vehemently, "And let's not forget he's a douche bag. " I added.
She smiled slightly, running her right hand through my hair, "I thought the word was asshole. "
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, well, he's that too. And all the disgusting things I can't remember right now, but whatever. You get my point. "
She laughed. And I could see the haunted look leaving her eyes gradually.
"I love you, Bailey. " I told her. Because I had to remind her every now and then so she'd know I wasn't leaving her.
"I love you too. " she whispered, her blue eyes lighting up in a way that always made me smile.
We heard a person clearing their throat.
I and Bailey's head swung towards the direction and I saw it was a customer who'd just come in but we were to caught up in ourselves to notice.
"Um... I just wanted coffee. " he said quietly but his voice was a little scratchy.
"Sure. " I pulled away from Bailey and got his order ready.
"Is there any chance y'all are into guys too? " he asked.
My eyes flung to him in shock. What did he mean? I turned to Bailey and saw she was looking at him with the same expression.
He huffed, "I mean, are you guys just lesbians or you're bi? "
My eyes widened as I understood what he meant. Apparently, he thought Bailey and I were lesbians and that we were hooking up.
I burst out laughing and he just stood there, looking more confused by the minute. He had better luck waiting for Bailey for an answer because right now, I could barely catch my fuckinh breath.
Thankfully, Bailey stepped in. "Oh, we're not lesbians. "
He frowned, "But I saw you guys –"
"We were just talking. " Bailey cut him off.
"Huh. " he pursed his lips, no doubt thinking we were lying and that cracked me up even more.
Now that I thought about it, we'd given him reason to think we were hooking up. My chin had been resting on Bailey's boobs and her fingers had been in my hair. Our faces had been very close to each other in our conversation and with my hands around her waist like that, it could give the wrong meaning. I couldn't blame him though.
"Here's your coffee. " I pushed it to him then he gave me a hundred dollar note. I placed it in the cash register, then gave him his change.
When I looked back up, he was staring at me inquisitively. I cocked a brow and we stared at each other in a silent battle.
He dropped his eyes finally then turned, leaving.
"Oh my God, can you believe that guy? " I asked Bailey, laughing.
"He wanted to have a threesome with us. " she guffawed, doubling over.
"Is that the part you're concerned with? He thought we were lesbians. "
She shrugged her shoulders.
I gaped in disbelief, "you wouldn't care if people thought you were a lesbian? "
"Why would I? I'd certainly do you if you were one. "
My jaw slacked even more. Did I hear her right?
She hopped off the counter, walking over to me and pushing my chin up with the tip of her index finger, "Pick your jaw up off the floor, Kate. And let's get to work. " then she walked past me, grabbing a cleaning rag.
I squinted my eyes, staring at my best friend in a new light. Maybe she was more interesting than I gave her credit for.
DREW.
I dragged the razor down my jaw, wiping off a layer of shaving cream as I stared at myself in the mirror.
It had been two days since I last saw Kate. Two fucking days. I didn't know it would be hard going a week without seeing her, but here I was, desperate for a glimpse of her after two fucking days.
We talked on the phone, yes. But I hadn't met her. She chalked it up to work whenever I asked her why she didn't want to come over but now that she was done with work for the week, I wasn't giving her an excuse to avoid me.
I shaved quickly then stepped under the shower spray, the memories of the night she spent with me, assaulting me. That's how it had been for days now. At work, gym, shower, wherever I was, I replayed what happened with her. And got fucking hard always. It was annoying and so fucking frustrating because she was probably somewhere else unaffected by me. While I suffered.
When I got out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist, snatching my phone from my bedside table. I was going to call Kate. I didn't give a fuck if I was the one breaking first. I was going through hell as it was.
She picked on the third ring. "Hey. " her voice. Her fucking voice. Low and husky, seducing me effortlessly.
I fought the hard on that her voice was about to give me and tried to sound like my usual self –calm and collected, "Where are you right now? "
"My day was fine, thank you very much. How was yours? " I could picture her rolling her eyes. She always gave me crap about my lack of manners and while I tried to explain to her that I found little talk unbearable, she told me I'd have to bear it. For her.
"Where are you? " I repeated, ignoring what she'd just said because I was in a black mood. All because of her.
"I'm currently at the store with Bailey. "
Her bestfriend. "Am I interrupting? " I had the decency to ask.
"Of course not. You're free to call me whenever, babe. " she purred, causing an involuntary shiver to run through me. Damn this girl.
"Okay can I... Can we go out later today? "
I heard her talking to somebody in the background, probably Bailey. "Yes, we can. I'm bringing Bailey too. That cool with you? " she asked, sounding unsure.
"I could give a fuck. As long as I get to see you. "
Her breath hitched then she went silent for a minute. "Okay, um......... What time will Angus be coming? "
I smiled. She'd started thinking of Angus as her driver. As I'd wanted her to. "Angus wouldn't be coming. Hakim would pick you by six. "
"Okay. Where are we going? "
"Hakim will take you there. Be ready. " then I hung up, knowing it would piss her off. I liked it whenever she was mad.
I checked the time, seeing it was one hour before six. Jesus. I hadn't even known what time it was.
As I dressed, I had a friend I couldn't quite name. I couldn't wait to see her and at the same time, I felt almost reluctant. After a while, I got the name. Nervous. I was nervous. To meet a girl. I was nervous to meet Kate Rossi. Fuck me.
When I got to the restaurant, I booked a table. Normally, you had to make a reservation for a table about a week before you planned on using it. But I didn't have to. I was Drew Rutledge after all.
I sat there, patiently waiting for Kate to show up, when the sliding doors of the restaurant opened and like a magnet, my eyes flew to it.
Kate and her friend, who I assumed was Bailey, stepped out. She had on a gown. A short gold thing that was held together by a tie behind her neck. She had on long earrings and matching gold heels. Her gold skin glittered against the gown in a way that drew eyes. She was nothing short of a fucking vision.
She smiled when she saw me, oblivious to the state in which I was.
They made their way to the table and Kate took the chair by the right, Bailey taking the other one.
"Jeez, Drew. You couldn't be a proper gentleman and pull my chair out for me? " she teased.
I cursed silently. "I'm sorry. I would've. But I couldn't see anything other than that. " I waved my hand in the direction of her gown.
She gave me a small smile and I saw she had minimal make up on and a barely there red lipstick.
"Is that your way of saying I look pretty? "
"You always look pretty. You're downright devastating right now. "
She blushed, looking away. "Well, I've never properly introduced you guys. " she pointed at her friend, "Bailey, this is Drew. Drew, Bailey. "
I extended my hand for a handshake, not wanting to make Kate angry by acting indifferent. "Nice to meet you. " I said, taking her in for the first time.
She was a blonde with blue eyes and maybe even as pretty up to Kate's standard but I didn't really register it. Kate was all I saw.
"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, Drew. I've heard a lot about you. " she glanced at me appraisingly, giving me a bold once over.
What the fuck? I turned to Kate, pulling my hand away from Bailey and she probably saw the silent question in my eyes because she laughed.
"Bailey is a lot to handle but you'll get used to her in no time. "
I didn't doubt that.
The waiter came over and we gave her our orders. I didn't even spare her a glance. All I could fucking see was Kate.
She communicated to me with her eyes.
Stop looking at me like that.
Then don't wear shit like that.
"Stop that. "
My eyes swung to Bailey. "Stop what? "
"Oh you didn't think everyone was oblivious to that little conversation y'all were having, did you? " she scoffed.
This was why a part of me hadn't wanted her to bring someone with. Was she going to be butting in on our business all through the meal?
I glared at her.......and she glared at me right back. Even cocking a brow just to tell me she wasn't buying my shit. What the hell.
I found myself getting intrigued. Who was this girl?
My gaze swung to Bailey, perplexed, "Your friend is even worse than you are. "
Kate laughed. A low, husky thing that did things to me. Shit. I was already spotting a semi just from seeing her in this bloody gown and it wasn't fun. She was going to fucking kill me with blue balls. And the night wasn't even started.
The waitress brought our meals over and I hastily dove in. I wanted this meal to be over with so I'd take her home with me. I wasn't going to survive if I didn't fuck her tonight.
"Slow down, Drew. " Kate laughed knowingly, like she knew what was happening to me, "We're going to be here awhile. "
I narrowed my eyes at her and continued to eat at the same pace.
"So, Drew, I hear you're dating my best friend. " Bailey broke the silence after a while.
I nearly choked on the water I'd been drinking. Is that what we were doing? Dating?
"Well, this is just a friendly reminder that if you fuck with her heart, I'll fuck up your pretty boy face. " she delivered with a sinister smile.
I wasn't in the least bit threatened but when I looked at her, actually looked, I saw a glint in her eyes that promised she'd go through with what she said. I felt myself grudgingly accepting that I had a little respect for Bailey and how protective of Kate she was.
One time, Kate excused herself to use the restroom and Bailey and I had a conversation where I realized she was a cool person. I liked her. She was a feminist to the core.
By the time Kate rejoined us, I'd already cleared the tab.
I had my hand around her waist –her bare waist– as we walked out. I figured her dress was backless when she got up to use the restroom and I'd been sweating the whole time. I was in hell for real.
She looked around when we stepped out, "Where's Angus? "
"He has the weekend off. " I told her, playing with her hair. I couldn't keep my hands to myself whenever she was around no matter how hard I tried.
She turned shocked eyes to me, "You drove here? "
"Don't sound so surprised. " I scowled.
She laughed then shook her head. We watched as Hakim stopped the car in front of us. I'd asked him to bring the car when Kate told me she had to go back home. Apparently, I wasn't getting any ass tonight. R.I.P balls.
I pulled her to me, kissing the ever living fuck out of her before giving her a light shove towards the vehicle.
"I hope your night will be as restless as mine. " I scowled at her, angry that she'd put me in this predicament.
"Always. " she gave me a last lusty look before entering the car.
"Gag. " Bailey commented, going in beside her.
"I look forward to seeing you more, Bailey. "
"Me too, Rutledge. " she smiled.
I watched as the car rolled away until it turned a corner and I lost track of it.
Whatever my plans were for tonight, there was definitely a cold shower in there somewhere.