Chapter 25

KATE.
I laid on the living room couch, going through my emails.
June had called me several times to check up on me, Sue more than June. June and I had become close over time and I actually got to hear from her that she'd gone on several dates with Giovanni. Win. Win.
Bailey was currently in her room getting prepared for our clubbing.
Speaking of the devil, I heard her walking down the hallway to the living room.
"What are you still doing on the couch? " she asked wide-eyed when she saw I was still in the same position I'd been in for the last hour.
"Chill out, Bails. We still have an hour. " I waved her off.
"An hour? " she yelled, "How long do you think it's going to take to get your make up done? "
"Oh, stop being over dramatic. "
"I'm being over dramatic? " she glared at me incredulous, "You're being under dramatic. "
I rolled my eyes, "That's not a word. "
"Oh my God, Kate. You sound like a teenager right now. " she placed her hands on her hips like an exhausted mother.
"Well, I never really did leave my teen years. " I wiggled my brows suggestively.
She shook her head, pulling me up from the couch, "Come on. We don't have time for your inappropriate jokes. "
I spluttered, "I make inappropriate jokes? "
She grinned then pushed me on the stool in front of the mirror in her room.
I sat, watching absently as she transformed me from beautiful to downright sexy.
"Damn, Bails. You could totally be a make up artist. " I fingered my hair, making sure not to smudge my make up. "In case you get any problems up front, you can go into make up. Just saying. "
"I'll keep that in mind. " she tapped my shoulder then gave me a hasty shove out of her room, "Go dress up. "
I went through my clothes, looking for something suitable to wear. I hadn't really come to Bailey's place with much clothes for outing since in my head all I thought was, I'd be staying home. So I had limited choices.
Jean shorts caught my eyes and I picked it up, dangling it between my fingers to examine it. It was a little bit on the short side. Okay, fine, it was short. Very much so. But it wasn't too short by my standard.
I placed it aside the mess of clothes and rummaged for a top to go with. I finally decided on a white open back leotard that would look bomb against my tan.
I was going to kill tonight. That's for sure.
I wore my clothes in a hurry and arranged my hair to fall evenly around my body.
I turned to check out my back in the mirror and I loved how my hair hung to exactly the top of my shorts. It was sexy as hell. It was almost sad I had to done a jacket over it.
"Bailey, are you ready? " I shouted, putting on my ear hoops.
"Been waiting for you for ages. Come on out. "
I stepped out, dragging my jeans up a tad. I sighed. That was the problem with having a big ass. When it fit around your ass, it would gap at the waist. It was a miracle that this one was even remotely snug around my waist.
"Let's go set that club on fire. " Bailey said, eyeing me.
"Let's. " I hooked an arm around her's as we made our way outside.
I'd already ubered an hour ago so when I got a text saying the driver was downstairs, we immediately went down.
I loved how Bailey's blue gown made her blue eyes pop. It was a tight short gown that sat pretty high on her thigh. She'd given her hair a slightly disheveled sexy look and her lips were a bright red. Mine were bare.
All of a sudden, the car gave a sudden jerk.
What the hell?
Bailey must have thought the same thing because our eyes met.
We moved smoothly for another two minutes before the car jerked again.
Oh my God. Was this car about to break down? I checked for the time on my phone and saw that it was already 9:40. We had to be at the club at exactly 10pm or our tickets would be cancelled.
And just like I predicted, the car rolled slowly then finally stopped. We were officially stuck halfway to the club.
No. No. No. This cannot be happening right now.
"Did your car just stop? " Bailey asked, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"No, Bailey. The car just turned into a jet and we're flying in the sky. "
"Sarcasm? Kate? Really, right now? " she yelled.
And I couldn't hold it in anymore. I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach.
This situation was so fucking funny, I couldn't believe it.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you drunk? " she hit me on my thigh, "We're not even at the club yet. "
And that cracked me up even more. "Considering we're still going. " I wheezed out, cracking up even more.
The driver rushed out, checking for whatever was wrong with his car. He moved around for a bit before coming back in and starting the car again.
The car made a starting noise but it refused to start all the way. He ran his hand through his hair and rushed out again, messing with the car.
He came back in and tried again and this time, it worked.
"Thank fuck. " Bailey yelled. "Jesus. "
I sat up, catching my breath while Bailey just glared at me.
"You're a crazy person. " she muttered, giving a small huff of laughter before turning her attention to her phone.
"Just finding joy where I can, Bails. " I blew her a kiss, then automatically checked my phone, like I was expecting a text from someone .
And I was. From Drew.
He'd apologized just once and given up? Who the hell did that?
You did ask him to leave though, didn't you?
But that was just in the heat of the moment. If he really wanted us to get back together, he should have put in more effort.
But what was the point of stewing over this anyway? Did I want to get back together with him? And hadn't he even said we were never in a relationship anyway?
This was all bullshit.
"Kate. "
I looked at Bailey.
"Get out of your own head. We're going to enjoy ourselves. "
Right. Apparently, my thoughts had literally been showing on my face.
I smiled at her, just now seeing that we were finally approaching our destination. The flashing neon light of the club showed the name in the posh font. Club R. The most prestigious club in Brooklyn.
Bailey and I walked side by side towards the big building, stopping at the line out front.
It was fun to watch some teenagers being rejected. Some people were sent back because of their dressings and some just plain lied about having misplaced their tickets.
When it got to our turn, we gave the bouncer our tickets and I saw his eyes were fixed straight on me. Hmm.
"Looking to have some fun tonight? " he asked.
He looked pretty good. A little too bulky for my tastes but he was handsome. Don't get me wrong, the muscles were sexy as hell. But I preferred my men slightly less built.
"Yes. " I smiled at him. A little flirting never hurt anyone.
He slipped his arm around me all of a sudden and I felt his hand slip into my back pocket. Was he trying to cop a feel or what?
His gaze became intense, burning, "Call me. " he whispered then gave my butt a light pat before he turned to the next person on the line.
I fought the urge to fan my face as I walked beside Bailey in.
"Jesus. That guy. " Bailey murmured.
So she felt it too. "He was intense as hell. "
Her eyes moved around, taking in the luxuriousity of the place. "Let's go get a drink. "
The club screamed sensuality without being too slutty. It screamed me. I instantly felt a vibe with the place.
Damn, I couldn't wait to get down on the dance floor.
Bailey and I took a glass of sex on the beach each before we got down on the dance floor. And of course I took off my jacket before going in there.
I felt strong arms wrap my hips from behind and I turned to see it was a dark haired man.
My heart skipped a beat as it reminded me of Drew's hair but I brought my eyes lower and saw he had blue eyes. Good.
I grinded on him to two different songs. And even when he went a little bit far by running his hands down the sides of my hips and bringing his lips down to my ear, I didn't stop him. Because, hell, it was one night in Club R. And I was going to enjoy the hell out of it.
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rising. And without turning, I knew Drew was somewhere around me. Only him could make me react that way.
But I didn't stop grinding on the man, nor did I try to look for him.
I felt myself being pulled away by familiar arms. Was he about to start this here?
"What the hell do you think you're doing? " he seethed.
His voice ran through me deliciously, causing a ripple to run through me.
I pulled my hand away, "Dancing. What's it look like? " I cocked a brow.
He wore a sexy V-neck sweater and some kind of black pants that showed his muscled legs.
I snapped my eyes back to his.
"Come with me. " he tried to pull me with him and when I looked back, my dance partner had already snagged the waist of a passing waitress. Men.
I yanked my arm from Drew's hand and stormed off, intent on getting another drink from the bar. He was not going to ruin my night for me.
I found myself upside down. The asshole threw me over his shoulder, fireman style and marched, the crowd parting for him as he went.
"What the hell is wrong with you? " I yelled, trying to hit him, but the only thing in my periphery was his ass. And it was a nice ass.
"Put me down. " I yelled again.
"I will. " he replied, carrying me up a set of stairs and he hadn't even broken a sweat yet.
The man was incredibly powerful. And fit.
I caught Bailey hysterically trying to run up the stairs towards me but a man stopped her, grabbing her waist to pull her back.
He definitely had to be with Drew on this.
I gave her a thumbs up so she wouldn't worry about me before I was taken into a room and dropped on the ground.
The world spun for a bit before I finally got my bearings back.
And when I did, I launched at the asshole.
DREW.
"Jesus Christ. "
I grabbed Kate's two hands in one of mine and dropped her on the bed.
I'd barely caught her in time as she flung herself towards me, no doubt intent on gouging my eyeballs out of my head.
I had to say I was shocked witnessing this side of Kate. The side with temper tantrums. She really was something.
She quickly sat up on the bed, pulling her hair away from her face, her chest, rising up and down with barely controlled anger.
"What the hell, Drew? Dragging me out of the dance floor like I'm some sort of kid? "
"You had your body all up on that asshole. " I fumed, the memory hitting me anew.
She'd been grinding her ass on the man, her hips moving seductively. And the man had had his hands all over her, even taking it as far as kissing her on the cheek.
"Why do you care? "
I squinted, "Why do I care? " Was she for real right now?
"Yes. " she snapped, "What's it to you? " she got up from the bed, walking towards me to poke me in the chest, "I could decide to pick a guy and fuck him senseless. And you wouldn't be able to do a damn thing about it. "
"Oh, but I would. "
Her eyes narrowed into tiny little slits, "And why is that? "
I brought my face close hers, leaving just a hairs breadth of space between us. "Because, Kate, baby, you're still mine. "
"You're delusional. " she huffed. But her eyes lingered on my lips before she took a step away from me.
I fidgeted, faltering all of a sudden. All the hope and confidence I'd been feeling, died.
What if this plan wasn't as bullet proof as I'd thought it was? I'd never really thought about that. I'd blindly put all my eggs in one basket again.
This was Arash's plan. To be forceful with her, not let her get her way. Because he believed she was just being stubborn and that she actually still had feelings for me. What if he was wrong? Shit.
Throwing Arash's plan in the bin, I decided to just speak to her however the words came to me.
"Kate. " she turned to face me, "You really don't... " I paused.
Was I about to ask her whether she still had feelings for me? When we'd never even talked about feelings while we were still in the relationship.
Funny how whenever I thought of us, I'd paired us as in a relationship when I had told her exactly the opposite.
Maybe I could start from there, right? Explain to her why I'd actually broken up with her.
But how could I tell her without explaining to her how fucked up my relationship with my dad was?
"Don't what? " she snapped. And I realized I'd been staring at her all this while.
She looked angry and frustrated and also.... Tired. I knew she was mad at me. Angry about the break up and she obviously didn't look like she wanted anything to do with me. But I could sense an underlying feeling of ...... Longing?
Was she frustrated with me because I was wearing her out? Could I actually be making progress?
The thought made my heart race. It would be too good to be true.
But just when I felt even a little bit of hope, she squashed it by turning around and stomping towards the door.
I ran so quickly, without even thinking about it, and blocked her.
"What are you doing? " grey eyes landed on me.
Fuck. I missed her so much, I couldn't believe it.
My eyes dropped to the slinky thing she'd worn as an excuse for a top. And the barely there shorts.
The top was a white and had a total open back that showed some side boobs. And her shorts were signature Kate style –overly short. The outfit put all her curves on display, not to mention how much of her skin it showed. Her golden legs were just out there, for the whole fucking world to see. And even though it threw me into a fit of rage, I felt a little bit proud. Because she was mine. At least in my head.
My eyes leisurely crawled back up to her face, where she was slowly incinerating me with her hot gaze.
I cleared my throat, deciding to put my all on this. "I never meant to break up with you. I never did, really. And I was asshole for doing it at the hospital. That was very fucking stupid of me. And I've never regretted anything more. " my eyes fluttered closed as I admitted that little detail.
I opened them to see her hands running up and down her neck. Those hands. Those small, delicate hands. I missed them on my body. Badly. And I just wanted to grab them and place them on my face, have them running all over me.
"It broke me, Kate. " I continued, "Knowing you were out there, possibly in pain, and I couldn't do anything because I was the one who pushed you away in the first place. You don't know how fucking frustrating that was. " I moved away from her so I could put space between us. Having her in my space, fucked with my head. And I needed to tell her what I wanted to without my dick interfering.
"Several times, I picked up my phone to call you –"
"Why did you? " she interrupted me.
"What? "
"Why did you break up with me? "
Shit. I knew it would come to this, didn't I?
Her eyes tracked my movements as I paced. And I knew I couldn't lie, not when she was staring at me like that. And I didn't even want to. So I decided to give her a part of the truth.
"I did it to keep you safe. "
Only when it was too late.
Her eyes narrowed, "Keep me safe? What do you mean? "
I looked away. I couldn't tell her that. That was asking too much. I didn't want to tell her that but I also knew I couldn't get out of this without giving her something. Anything.
"My life is a very complicated and public one. " I turned to face her. "My life attracts danger. " her eyes widened, "And there are people who would want go hurt me, or others close to me. "
She absently raised her hands up to touch the scar on her forehead and my heart broke.
My hands ached to pull her into me and just hold her. Till this feeling of unease would leave me. I just needed to hold her. Touch her.
My fists clenched and unclenched by my sides, and once again, I shoved them into my pant's pockets to kill the urge to touch me.
"Drew. " her voice shook, "You're saying someone wants to kill me to get to you? "
I swallowed, "Yes. "
She shook her head slowly, like she was trying to process what I had just told her.
"That's crazy. " she trembled slightly, wrapping her hands around her body as if to protect herself.
And I couldn't control myself anymore. I just fucking couldn't.
I closed the space between us with determined strides and hugged her, crushing her body into mine.
My hands slid down her back. Up, down, up, down. The feel of her skin eased my agitation somewhat. And I welcomed the feeling I hadn't experienced in a while. Contentment.
"Do you forgive me? " I murmured into her hair.
"No. You hurt me, Drew. " she whispered.
An arrow of pain shot straight to my heart. Fuck. I felt her pain. It mirrored in my own heart. I'd gone fucking insane without her. And I couldn't imagine going through something like that again. Never.
I pulled away slightly and tipped her chin up with my index fingers so I could meet her eyes, "I know, Kate. I know. Let me make up for that. "
"How? " she murmured, her hands going around my back to lock at my waist.
"I'll show you. " I murmured, stroking her cheek. "Just forgive me. "
She pinned me on the spot with those magnificent grey eyes I'd missed so much and I found myself unable to look away.
"Don't make me regret this. "
There was a certain edge to her voice that had my back up. I must have really hurt her with this break up.
And I was going to make it up to her. Even if it fucking killed me.