Page 5

Present
I finish getting dressed and text some buddies to see if they want to meet up for some beer. It’s been a hell of a day. After a few minutes, a couple of them respond on where to meet up at and what time. I finish getting ready and head out to the living room.
I then throw myself on the couch for a moment and put my head in my hands. In a few short months, I went from having a future to everything being turned upside down and being left with nothing. People I trusted broke every ounce of confidence I had for anyone and everyone. The woman I loved destroyed me. If I couldn’t trust those closest to me, there was no hope for anyone. The only person I trusted at this moment was my partner, Hardwick. I had to. Both our lives were in each other’s hands.
When I got here in Vegas, there were women everywhere. I could have easily found someone to take out, have a good time with, and maybe call her later. I just don’t want that. There’s a reason I don’t date anyone anymore. There are so many opportunities I have to take a girl out. Girls give me their number constantly. Especially after finding out I’m a cop. There are a plethora of Badge Bunnies. But I just don’t want to date. I don’t want one-night stands. They all turn me off, anyway. Well, everyone except the gorgeous woman from OneShot Coffee.
I’m not sure what it is about her, but she’s the first woman that I actually don’t feel repulsed by. She’s shy, innocent, and absolutely sexy. Something about her drew me in. Instead of turning away from her, I gravitate towards her.
Laughing, I think back about our encounter. It was absolutely cute when I caught her staring at me. She looked like a deer in headlights. I purposely sat where I did so I could look at her. I needed to keep seeing her; she was a vision. If Hardwick hadn’t been there, I would’ve sat next to her and started up a conversation.
I look at my watch and decide to just head over to the bar early. If I get there early, I can enjoy a beer or two by myself. I walk out and lock the front door, then head over to the stairs and make it down to the first landing, where I freeze in place. My heart stops.
It’s her. What the fuck? It’s her!
She locks up her apartment and walks out to the parking lot. I don’t think she heard me come down; I can see earbuds in her ears, and her head is bopping to whatever she is listening to. Slowly, I move down the steps and face the parking lot to watch her walk out to her car. It’s unquestionably the girl from OneShot Coffee. Holy shit. The emerald-eyed beauty.
She lives in this apartment complex. In this apartment building. OneShot Coffee girl lives right below me. Of all the times I had come down these steps, I’ve never run into her. But sure as shit, she lives here in this apartment complex. And of all things, she is my neighbor.
Today, for the first time, I am a firm believer in fate.
Chapter 3
Katrina
It has beena few days since I saw Officer “A” at OneShot Coffee. Well, to be honest, I haven’t been back to said coffee shop. Our interaction was so intense. I just don’t need to have another chance at showing how extremely awkward I am or to set off any more anxiety attacks. I’m sure once he realizes how strange I am and how different I am, he will do what everyone else has in the past. He will put me down or made sure I feel stupid. So, I stay at home, in my leggings and t-shirts, slumming it. Well, working, but without the yummy coffee. So yeah, coffee slumming it. My coffee making skills don’t even come close to those at OneShot.
Vicki has made her thoughts known and thinks I’m insane for hiding away. But let’s be honest; this is the same Vicki who also thinks I’m insane for still holding on to my v-card. She thinks I just need to give it up and get it over with. It’s not like I meant to hold on to it; I’m not a “wait till marriage” kind of person, I just never really liked a guy enough to give it up. Also, once guys get to know me and figure out my social anxiety will hold them back, they call it a day on our relationship.
Though, I give her credit. Vicki has at least tried to help me out. She even had a “Kat’s gonna give it up” campaign in college. It didn’t last long because I would have to go out and be around people to meet guys to have sex. Eventually, Vicki realized it just would not happen.
So, yes, I am a twenty-five-year-old virgin.
Yep. Virgin. Not my greatest claim to fame, but it’s what I have. I know it’s incredibly weird, but it’s a known fact that I’m incredibly weird, so I guess it fits. Therehavebeen guys in my life; boyfriends, dates. None of the guys I dated were the one I wanted to take it any further with other than just casual dating. They just didn’t appeal to me. So, I will simply be a cat lady who reads books.
Well, no, that won’t work. I’m not a cat person. More of a dog person, really. I just don’t know if that has the same effect. Maybe I’ll even get a fish. No, I don’t want to deal with a fish tank. Well, it doesn’t matter. I just will leave this earth decades from now, still a virgin.
I’m sitting on my couch enjoying a book when my phone rings.Vickiflashes on the phone. She’s probably going to yell at me or tell me I’m crazy. I roll my eyes and answer.
Before I can even say hello, she is off and running. “Bitch, you still locked away?”
“Hello to you too,” I roll my eyes as I respond to her lack of a greeting.
“Well, are you?” she countered.
“First off, I am not locking myself away. I’m just taking some me time. Second, you know drinking coffee at those places is expensive. It’s much cheaper to drink coffee at home.” Yeah, she probably won’t buy what I’m selling. I don’t even believe myself.
“You are so full of shit!” Yup, she didn’t buy it. “Kat, you can’t keep yourself locked away. Cop man probably hasn’t even been back. Besides, what would be the harm if he showed up? He was something to look at, right? You said he was sex on a stick, so why not bite yourself off a piece?”
“Vic, I never said he was sex on a stick. You said that. Apart from that, I just don’t know how to act around guys unless they’re as awkward as me. Even then, they don’t last long. He’s insanely hot so let’s be honest, what in the world would he see in me?” I look down at my feet and frown. There are a lot of times I wish I had more of an outgoing personality. That I could be more like Vicki or girls who aren’t afraid to put themselves out there.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.” she huffed over the phone.
Ugh. She has a point. I shouldn’t be hiding. I just don’t know what to do if he comes in again. There is no way he would leave me be this time. “Okay. So, if I go back there and do my normal stuff, what happens if he shows up? What if I have a panic or anxiety attack? I don’t know if I can deal with that kind of embarrassment.”
“Well, he’s a cop. Pretty sure he can help you through your attack.”
I clench my fists and close my eyes, my grip on the phone so hard my knuckles turn white. “You’re not helping, Vic! I don’t want or need his attention!”