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I shake my head. “Vicki, I was so fucking tired and so deep asleep that I had no clue. Like I said, it felt real, but I was so tired that my brain couldn’t figure out that it was actually happening and that I needed to get up. I thought it was Kat in my dream.” My voice fades into a whisper at that last part. The part I wanted to be true.
“How did she get in?” Vicki grills me.
“She found an extra key I’d made when I made one for Kat. Emma took it. I didn’t even know it disappeared.” I hang my head. Since then, I’ve had my locks changed again. Even though Emma left the key, I don’t trust that she didn’t make copies of it.
“Are you pressing charges against this bitch?” Vicki’s eyes are wide, and her eyebrows shoot up in disbelief.
“Yes, I am.” I left it at that.
Vicki continues, “Okay, so, after Kat caught you, what happened?”
“I got her away from me and got her out of my place. Once I knew she left, I went down to Kat’s place. When I got there, I saw she’d left her door cracked. I announced myself and searched for her. Then, I found her on the floor, and I called 9-1-1.” My heart races remembering how scared I was looking at her lying there. Knowing my past caused it. I close my eyes at the memory. I felt so helpless; I saw her and knew it was my fault.
“Okay.” That’s all Vicki says.
I stare at her. Waiting for her to finish, but nothing else comes out. Austin shrugs when he catches my dubious look.
“That’s it? Just ‘okay’?”
“Yeah, Bryce. Okay, look, Kat’s like family to me. So, okay. I’ll help in any way I can. Both of you are fucking miserable. You look like shit, and she looks like shit. You both are torturing yourselves. And for what? Some mistakes and misunderstanding that some dumb bitch caused. So, yeah, okay. Let’s figure out how to fix this.”
I nod, and a piece of my heart starts to beat again with the possibility of being able to fix this and get Kat back in my arms. “I have an idea, but I’ll need your help.” I tell her.
“I’ll help, Romeo, but you better not screw this up. I need her to get better, not worse. Promise me you’ll make all this right. Promise me you won’t hurt her.”
“I promise I’ll get our Kat back. When I do, I’ll never let her go again. She’ll never know hurt again.” With that, I fill them in on the idea I had.
When I get back to Austin’s, I head into his spare room and lie down on the bed. I turn on the song I played for her, then pull up her picture.
I miss that face, that laugh, those eyes. What’s left of my heart squeezes as I stare at her beauty. Whatever I do, I can’t fail her anymore. I have to make sure that this goes off without a hitch. To prove to her that she’s the only person I want to be with and the only one who holds my heart. This needs to work. Fuck, this needs to work.
I need to get my Kitty Kat back.
Chapter 24
Katrina
Today’s a better day.Every day I’m getting better. Weekly I go see a therapist to help with my panic and anxiety. It’s something I probably should have done years ago, but with the help of Vicki, I found a therapist I can trust enough to talk to. So, like I said, each day is getting better.
I’m working again, but I don’t dare head to OneShot Coffee. Instead, Vicki brings me a latte from there every morning. She still sits and eats with me at least one meal of the day to make sure that I’m eating, but honestly, I don’t mind the company now.
Vicki is making her famous pancakes in my kitchen as I pick up a book I’ve been reading and start on the next chapter. I’ve also thought about finishing my book. Maybe with more therapy I’ll be able to put myself out there. Maybe.
“Hey, you know, I was thinking,” Vicki begins while walking into the living room. “I think we need to do a girls’ weekend. Head up to the mountains. Become one with nature and all that shit. What do you think?”
“Um, yeah. I don’t see why not? We’ll get a cabin, right?” A cabin allows for privacy. They have magnificent views of the mountains, too. This would be perfect to just relax and forget everything.
“Absolutely. Okay, I’ll see if we can get one this weekend. I’d like to get out of Vegas as soon as possible. Sound good?” Vicki goes back to flipping pancakes.
“As long as we get a cabin, yes. Sounds good.” Getting away might be what I need to help set me straight again. Help me get back to myself a little more than I have already. My therapist told me I need to make small strides in stepping out, so we could consider this a small step. I mean, I’m leaving the house. That’s something, right?
Vicki brings me a stack of her scrumptious pancakes and sits down next to me on the couch with hers. I dig in, moaning with every bite.
“Seriously, you know how to make pancakes.” I say with a mouthful.
“It’s easy, Kat. But feel free to keep the compliments coming.” Vicki laughs.
“Oh, the last thing I need to do is stoke your ego. You need nothing else going to that head of yours. If it gets too big, Austin won’t know what the fuck to do with you.” As soon as I mention Austin, my mind instantly thinks of Bryce.