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“What?” she whispers, her eyes now wide and alert. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Oh, no. I was just thinking. I was wondering about something.” Turning my entire body towards her, I prop my arm on the back of the couch.
She hesitates, then asks, “About what?”
“Please don’t take this wrong way. I just want to know what happened that makes you to avoid a lot of public places or being around people.” I don’t want her to panic, so I make sure she understands that I’m not being malicious. “Honestly, I’m just curious. It may help me in the future so I know how to avoid it.” I’m still upset that I put her in that position from last week. She shut down so quickly that she didn’t even feel comfortable when some guys I work with came by.
“Um,” She glances down at the blanket. “I just … it wasn’t always easy growing up. I really don’t want to talk about it.” She’s shutting down again.
“Hey, come here.” I pull her close and wrap my arm around her shoulder. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t. I just don’t enjoy bringing up my past. Let’s just focus on the movie, shall we?” With that, she turns back towards the TV and nestles closer into my side. I run my hand along her arm while we sit there in silence. Before long, her breathing evens out. I look down and see that she’s fallen asleep.
For a moment, I just stare at her. Taking in her long eyelashes, her soft skin. Kat rarely wears makeup, and she truly doesn’t need it. She’s a goddess without it.
I pick her up, wrapping my arm under her legs and pulling her head close to my chest, and bring her into her room. I pull down her comforter and lay her down in bed, before covering her with the blanket.
I step into the living room, and turn off the movie, and grab her phone. Back in the bedroom, I plug it in and make sure she’s warm enough. Even though it’s Vegas, it can get cold at night.
“Night, Kitty Kat.” I place a kiss on her forehead and turn to leave the room.
In the kitchen, I take her keys off the key ring and leave her a note saying I’ll bring them back in the morning. There is no way for me to deadbolt her door unless I take her keys. Maybe it’s the cop side of me, maybe it’s the side of me that cares for her. Either way, I don’t want to do anything that would put her in danger.
After I shut her door quietly, I lock it and send a text to her phone saying the same thing that I wrote in the note.
As I walk into my apartment, she’s all I can think about. So often this week, she has been on the forefront of my thoughts, taking up every inch of space in my mind.
Tonight, she did something that meant a lot to me. Kat invited me to dinner with her family for the holiday. We’re just friends, and she has no reason to bring me along, but she wants me there. She doesn’t want me to be alone. A girl who makes sure she’s by herself most days made sure I wasn’t for Thanksgiving. That did something to me.
I lay down in bed and stare up at the ceiling. When I first arrived in Vegas, I was merely working to pass the time. I pulled extra shifts and spent the rest of my free hours at the gym. Some days, I would hang out with the guys while other days, I would simply sit at home. Now, it’s different. Now, I look forward to getting off so I can talk to her. I look forward to just being around her, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh. Tonight, when she fell asleep against me, something inside me stirred. She fit me. Kat truly is someone who brings joy into my world. I can only hope I do the same for her, my Kitty Kat.
Chapter 8
Katrina
“So,are you going to invite Bryce out with us?” Vic calls from the kitchen. Right now, she’s mixing us some drinks. Since she’s a bartender, who knows what’s in them?
“Um, I didn’t think to. Should I?”
“You know, I still think that was incredibly sweet that he put you to bed last night. Yes, I think you should invite him out. I think he has a thing for you.” Vicki walks over and hands me her drink concoction. “Here. This is a Purple Gecko.” She hands me my drink and then heads to my room to get dressed.
“Thanks,” I take a sip and my lips pucker. This will no doubt get me drunk. I’ll need to drink this slowly if I want to make it out tonight.
Ugh. We’re going out. To the strip, of all places. Vicki wants to act like tourists tonight. I’m less than thrilled to be going along with her plan. If I have to go out, at least it’s with her. Being around tourists and crowds, I’m really putting myself in an uncomfortable position.
“Okay. Let me text him and see if he wants to go.” A little piece of me is excited at the thought of doing that. I pick up my phone and send a text off to him.
Me: Hey, Vicki and I are going to the strip tonight. She wants to play tourist. Do you want to tag along? Bring a friend, maybe? Let me know.
Bryce: Sure. Sounds like fun. Will you be ok with being on the strip?
I smile at my phone. He’s been so amazing and understanding, even now, always looking out for me.
Me: Yeah. I’m drinking now to take the edge off. And I’m fine when I’m with Vicki and even more so with you going. Plus, she knows where the good spots are at.
Bryce: Ok. Mind if I invite Austin?
Me: Sure. Be at my apartment around nine.