Chapter 24

KATE.
I paced in the living room, waiting for Bailey to walk through the living room door so I could give her a piece of my mind.
Who the hell does Drew think he is anyway? Coming over here and telling me he wanted me back. Saying he was sorry for the break up.
The hell did he mean? Like I was a fucking charity case!
What the hell did I even do to attract scumbags anyway? I tried as much as I could for the assholes and how did they always repay me?
By dumping me.
Never again. I was so fucking done.
I held on to my anger with everything I had. I absolutely refused to think about how devastated he looked.
How his shoulders had drooped when I told him to get out.
How tortured he looked when I'd refused to let him touch me.
How he kept doing his signature thing of running his hands through his hair in frustration.
I refused to think about it. Any of it. Instead, I was going to hold onto my anger.
I was going to remain fucking angry over the fact that he thought he could come over here and tell me how 'sorry' he was for breaking up with me and I'd happily fall back into his arms. As simple as that.
I couldn't lie and say I hadn't gotten off on the thought of him wanting me back. Yes, it was flattering. But it wasn't enough for me to deceive myself again.
To hell with him and his ridiculous apology. Even though I absolutely liked it. But that didn't matter. I admired clothes at the mall everyday, didn't mean I bought them. That's all I did to them -admire.
I fumed. That he could break my heart like that at the hospital, without even waiting for me to get better, and he had the audacity to ask me to get back with him. When he'd even told me we weren't dating! I could fucking -
"Shit. Shit. Shit. " I cursed, doubling over and grabbing my sore toe.
In my angry pacing, I'd hit my toe on the coffee table. And it hurt like a bitch.
I glared at my toe like it was to blame for it's own injury. I sighed. I was so exhausted. And so fucking frustrated.
Why was Drew doing this to me? He was wrecking me. Draining me. I was already fine with how things were going. How I'd been able to shed the heartache I had been feeling for the past two weeks. Only for him to appear again, squaching all my progress in the dust.
Dashing all my hopes of finally getting over him.
And if I was being honest, it hurt this bad because his presence, his showing up again, proved to me that I hadn't been doing a good job of getting over him so far. No matter how much I wanted to deny it.
I heard a knock on the door. And I knew it was no one other than Bailey. And why the hell was she knocking anyway? She never did, because it was her place anyway.
But I knew why she was. She was scared of my mood. She knew I could be destructive when I was angry. What she didn't know was that, that mood had already passed.
I took a seat at the edge of the couch, crossing my legs together and kept quiet, waiting for her to come in.
She did, tiptoeing in and closing the door softly, as if she didn't want it to make a noise. Apparently, she hadn't noticed my presence.
"Hi, Bailey. " I said, my voice, monotone.
She squeaked, spinning around and clutching her heart, with an expression of a deer caught in headlines.
Her expression was so comical, I would've laughed if not for the fact that I felt awfully betrayed by her.
"Oh my fucking God. You scared me! "
I stared at her blankly, taking a book from Drew's book. And feeling strangely..... Powerful. Was this how Drew felt? Feeling an incredible sense of power from watching people squirm?
"Uh... " she moved away from the door, walking cautiously towards me. My eyes fell to her hands and I saw she was clutching her bag in a deathly grip. "How was your day? "
Oh, to hell with Drew's trick.
"How could you give Drew your address? What the hell Bailey? " I snapped.
She sighed, dropping her bag on a couch and walking towards me, "I'm so sorry. I wasn't -" she narrowed her eyes, "Wait. You're not mad I told him that you are living with me? "
"Of course he knew I had to be living with you. Isn't that what we planned at the hospital? "
"No, we planned for it to be at your house, not mine. "
I sighed in frustration, "Well, if we're not at my place, we'll be at yours right? "
She nodded. She bit her lip, and her gaze turned apologetic, "I'm sorry, Kate. I wasn't thinking. He sounded so....... Sad. Lost. " she shrugged, "I felt he was really remorseful. "
"Well that's the thing, Bailey. He deserves to be sad, lost, all those things. He deserves that for breaking up with me. Didn't you witness how I've been? How much pain I was in?. " I whispered the last part.
"I know. "
"And I'm just so dissapointed in you, Bailey. You couldn't have told me he called you. Given me a heads up or something. You just set me up like that. And I was totally unprepared. "
She dropped down on the couch beside me.
"I feel really betrayed and manipulated. Like you guys were in on something without me. And it's crazy because you're supposed to me my best friend. "
She threw an arm around me, hugging me. "I'm sorry, Kate. I won't do that again. " she pulled away, narrowing her eyes slightly, "Although I really was just thinking about you though. I know you still have feelings for him. "
I rolled my eyes, shifting away from her slightly. "Not now, Bailey. "
She grinned, wiggling her brows, "He did give me something though. So, this wasn't really for nothing. "
I gasped, feeling really bad. "Oh my God. You sold me. "
She bit down on her bottom lip, trying not to laugh. "No, I didn't sell you, Kate. "
"You so did. " she opened her mouth, "And don't call it bribing. You fucking sold me. That's why you let him in here. "
She huffed, "Oh, stop it, Kate. You know I can't sell you. You're worth too much. "
"Awwww. " I smiled.
"I got us tickets to Club R. "
I froze. Did I just hear her right? Club fucking R? We got tickets to club fucking R? I'd been dying to go to that club in like forever but the tickets were pretty fucking expensive. And of course they meant nothing to Drew. But it was every-fucking-thing to me. Jesus!
"By the look on your face, I take it I'm not the only one who's stoked for this? "
I narrowed my eyes, "You sold me for tickets to a club. You fucking whore. " but my heart wasn't in it. A smile was pulling at my lips.
"Don't judge, Kate. " she grinned, "So am I forgiven? "
"Hell yes. Do you even have to ask? " I glared at her like she had two heads.
"I had to. I really had to. " she shrugged and I couldn't help the low laugh that escaped my lips.
"What day are the tickets for anyway? " I asked all of a sudden, praying they were for Friday.
"Saturday. " she said and I deflated.
"Oh. " I muttered, but then it was better something than nothing, yeah? At least now I could see the place.
"I'm just joking. They're actually Friday. " she rolled her eyes, "Come on. I'm smart. "
I hugged her, causing her to give a little yelp in surprise.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. "
"Wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to see Jason Derulo in person, would I now? " she wiggled her brows.
I laughed, swatting her lightly.
"So... What happened with Drew? " she asked tentatively.
I shrugged, acting like it didn't bother me, "Nothing happened. Just said he wanted me back. "
"Huh. " she cocked her head, "Did he say why he broke up with you though? "
I blinked. Once. Twice. Almost laughing at my absolute stupidity. "I actually forgot to ask that. "
"Oh, something got you distracted? " she teased.
"Stop it. " I chided.
"To be honest, I actually thought that was the first thing you were going to want to know. Because, I have to admit, it's been a mystery to me. " she said, staring at me intently, "I've seen how the man looks at you, Kate. He couldn't have just left you like that. "
I shrugged again so she'd drop it.
But Bailey being well, Bailey, saw through my bullshit, "Are you happy, Kate? "
I stared at her, contemplating my answer. Was I happy? I was content at the moment with how my life was. And I wanted to work on myself even more.
But was I happy? No.
But I didn't tell Bailey that. Because admitting it, meant putting it out there in the universe. So I lied.
"Yes. "
Bailey smiled, but I saw it was a lie too.
"I'm glad you're happy. "
DREW.
"Where are you? "
"Just got off a meeting with my client. Why? "
"Your plan sucked ass. "
"You mean she refused to get back together with you? "
"I mean she threw me out on my ass. " I forced out through tightly clenched teeth.
That was the only thing I could do. Get angry. Because if I didn't hold on to my anger, I think I'd break down.
Arash said something to someone before replying me, "I can barely hear you. The reception's poor as hell here. "
"Where the hell are you? " I snapped.
"Like I told you, just left a client. " he sighed, "Where are you? So I can come meet you? "
I almost told him to come to my place but I hesitated. I didn't really feel like being indoors right now. I wanted to stay out and not think about Kate's rejection for a while.
So instead I told him to meet me at a bar. That was better.
I stopped at a red light, waiting for the light to turn green.
Fuck. It hurt to see Kate like that. Without an ounce of emotion thrown my way. Well, other than anger. She'd thrown a fucking glass at me. And missed on purpose. Because I knew if she actually wanted to hit me, she would have. But Kate wasn't violent. At least I thought that.
As I turned onto the street where the bar was located, I saw an elderly woman standing by the side of the road with her arms raised, trying to flag down a taxi.
But no one was stopping. Although that was partly due to the fact that she was so small and frail looking, people could barely noticed her.
Keep driving, Drew.
She looked lonely as hell and tired as well. Leaning on that stick for so long must be taking a heavy toll on her.
Drive the fuck on, Drew.
I found myself slowing the car down.
What they hell are you doing?
But I'd already stopped in front of the old lady. Fuck my life.
Where was the man who could ruin a person's life without blinking an eye? Where was the man who didn't feel? Where was the man who loved living alone, and would pick it over being with someone else every day? Fucking gone that's what.
My mind warred with my body as I got out and made my way towards the lady.
But it was already too late now. I was already standing in front of her and I couldn't just turn around and leave without coming off as a fucking creep.
"Ma'am, do you need help going somewhere? " I asked tentatively, in a tone I'd use with a child.
Her eyes widened as she stared at me, "Of course. But this taxi drivers are making it such a hard task. "
I hesitated, "Where are you going? "
"It's an inn, not far from here. " she turned tired grey eyes to me, "Why? "
Fuck. Her eyes. They reminded me of Kate's.
I looked away so I didn't have to meet her eyes, "I could drop you off. If you don't mind. "
She pursed her lips, contemplating. As if she was wondering if I actually wanted to help her or if I was some kidnapper.
I couldn't blame her though. This was my first time doing this and with the way I was acting, I couldn't blame her for suspecting me.
"Why would you want to do that? " she asked.
"I just want to help. Besides, you could save the money. "
She glared at me, "Money isn't the problem. "
Shit. That was a wrong thing to say. What the hell was wrong with me today? I was constantly pissing women off.
I sighed in frustration. For once I wanted to do a nice thing and this woman was making it a hard ship. Just bloody once.
"Look, I'm late for a meeting. Do you want my help or not? "
She stared at me, a little bit startled at my outburst. "Okay. "
I assisted her into my car then turned around to my side, all the while cursing myself for my stupidity. Why had I even stopped in the first place? I was losing my damn self.
In the next twenty minutes, I dropped her off at the inn. I'd had to drive slowly so I wouldn't freak her out. I'd never really had to live or interact with an older person so I didn't really know how to behave around one. I figured I'd rather be on the safe side.
I helped her out of the car and for some reason, even walked her into the inn.
"There's not many men like you out there, young man. " she started, "A lot of men with money would barely even spare a glance in our direction. " she placed her hand on top of mine, "It makes a difference to know that there are men still out there like you. "
I nodded, feeling a strange emotion take residence in my chest so I just nodded.
"Thank you. " she smiled at me for the first time and I blinked, taken aback. She must have been a very good looking woman in her time.
"You're welcome. " I murmured and watched silently as she walked inside, turning once to wave me before disappearing out of sight.
Shit. Arash was waiting for me.
I jumped in my car and drives quickly to the bar, spotting Arash already sitting at a booth.
I made my way over to him and sat on the seat opposite his.
"Where the hell have you been? " he asked, looking up from his phone.
I shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. Like he could tell I'd just done something I've never done before. And I wasn't going to admit that to anyone.
"Traffic. "
He glared at me. "Whatever. " he dropped his phone on the table between us, then turned it face down so he couldn't see the screen. "So, what happened? "
I leaned back on the couch. "Well, I went to Bailey's house where I met her. I apologized but she wasn't hearing any of it. "
"Wait. I thought her name was Kate. "
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah. Bailey is her best friend. "
He perked up all of a sudden, "The one at the bar, that day? "
"Yes. " his eyes took on a dazed look that I found disgusting, "Get that idea out of your damn head, Arash. We're talking about me. "
He glared at me disapprovingly before he sat up.
"About this Kate girl...... How do you actually feel about her? This question is awkward as hell, but I just have to know. "
"I care about her. "
"Just care? " he probed.
All of a sudden, the table became very interesting. I couldn't lift my eyes to meet his peering ones so I stared at the table instead, "Yes. "
"If you don't talk to me, I can't help you, mate. "
"I want her. " I admitted, "That's all I know. "
He stared at me for a long time, making me feel uncomfortable. "I can work with that. "
I nodded.
"So, you tried apologizing the Drew Rutledge style and she threw you out. " he said with a small, mocking smile.
I narrowed my eyes at him, "That was your idea. "
"Really? All I asked you to do was apologize. " he grinned happily, completely at odds with my current situation.
What the hell was wrong with this man?
"Yeah, you told me to go to her house and be honest with her. That's what I did. "
"No, I told you to grovel Drew Rutledge style. " his creepy grin widened, "Now, you do it my way. "
"What's your way? " I asked grudgingly.
The fact that I asked was more reason for me to know that something was clearly wrong with my head. I shouldn't be listening to this crap. But because I was desperate. And a desperate man at the end of his rope would do anything to save himself.
This was me trying to save my fucking self.
"Is there somewhere she's always at? Maybe work, a favorite shop or something? " Arash pulled me out of my thoughts.
I bit my bottom lip, thinking about it. Kate wasn't currently at work because she was still healing. And if she had a favorite shop she always attended, I didn't know of it. Proves how much of a terrible boyfriend I had been.
"No, not really. "
He cocked his head, "Don't she go to clubs? Or like the bar we met her that day? "
Now that I was thinking about it, she did like that bar. But I wasn't -
"Wait. " I said all of a sudden, excitement creeping into my voice, "I had to bribe Bailey with tickets to Club R. "
"For both of them? " he asked.
I nodded. "They're tickets for Friday. "
He grinned, falling back on his seat. "There's your in, my man. "
I watched quietly as the wheels started turning in Arash's head, no doubt cooking up a devious plan.
I made a mental note to thank Arash's parents when next I met them, for creating this man.
He really was a big help.