Page 38 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)

thirty-two

Kate

I ’m not sure who decided that cramming a bunch of therapists into one room was a good idea. We specialize in psychoanalyzing—it’s a recipe for disaster.

Hit the bar too often, and you’re using unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Bring an obnoxious date, and you’re rebelling against your parents due to unresolved conflict from your childhood.

Hit on another co-worker, and you’re probably sexually repressed.

Thank god for Nicole, or I would have already made up an excuse to sneak out.

“So, did I miss anything?”

I turn to her. “Nothing. I was actually thinking of grabbing a glass of champagne just to cause some drama and liven this evening up.”

The music cuts off only to be replaced by?—

“Is that Foreigner? It is, isn’t it?” Nicole’s brow wrinkles in confusion .

“Well, it’s official. This Christmas party is going down as the worst in company history.”

“I gotta take a little time. A little time to think things over…” A male voice croons.

I turn toward the stage and feel the breath leave my lungs in a pained gasp.

It’s not Foreigner, and I have officially crossed the threshold into Hell.

Nicole is standing, open-mouthed, and transfixed by the man on stage. I tap her on the arm. “Are you seeing the same thing I’m seeing? Is that Nate?”

She doesn’t even look at me. “Yes, that would be your husband belting out an eighties love ballad in front of everyone you work with.”

I laugh weakly. “Good. I was afraid that I was hallucinating again.”

Nate hits the chorus, and to my surprise, several people begin cheering. He’s good—like he took voice lessons. And he looks amazing in that tuxedo—I’m suddenly having trouble remembering why I decided to file for divorce.

Damn you, Nate Davis.

“Did you know that he could sing like that?” Nicole fans herself with her hand before grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing tray.

I shake my head, feeling feverish again for the first time in days. This time, it has nothing to do with pneumonia and everything to do with him.

Why is he here?

Several women in the crowd begin echoing his words—as if they’re an actual cover band.

“Kate, I think we have a little problem—he’s three sheets to the wind.” Nicole points to where Nate is beginning to sway unsteadily on his feet.

We move toward the stage as he belts the song’s last few words. Once he spots me in the crowd, he gives me a lopsided grin, and my heart turns over .

“Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for my wife, Tequila Shot Katy.” He points down at me, and several colleagues gasp in surprise. I can hear the whispers starting from somewhere behind me.

My face floods with heat, and I shake my head. “Stop.”

Please stop talking and get off that stage.

His tongue slips out and licks along his lower lip. “Katy, Katy, Katy—this is so us.” He sways into a speaker, nearly knocking it off the stage.

Nicole steps around me and up onto the stage. “Why don’t we get you two somewhere to talk privately.” She tries to pry the microphone from his hands, but he brings it back to his mouth.

“I’d like to talk privately if you know what I mean. Mic drop.” Nate lowers his eyebrows suggestively before letting the microphone hit the stage.

People begin clapping, and one yells, “You can do it!”

Nicole leads him down the stairs toward me just as my date returns.

“Jesus Christ, I just stepped outside to take a call. When did he get here?”

I cringe. “He showed up about the time that you left.”

Jeremy places a hand on my arm, and Nate narrows his eyes. “Who invited the leprechaun?”

Nicole closes her eyes and purses her lips, trying to keep from laughing.

“He’s my date. I can’t do this right now.”

Nate stops me with his arm. “You agreed to talk to me.”

I shake my head. “I did not. Nicole suggested it, and I said nothing in return. Why are you here right now?” My voice cracks, and I have to channel my frustration to avoid crying.

His eyes, like the color of his favorite whiskey, narrow in concern. “Katy, if you’d just come with me—I can’t talk to you with Lucky Charms here looking over your shoulder.”

Jeremy puts a hand on my shoulder. “You’re drunk, Nate. Why don’t you leave before you embarrass her any further? ”

Nate shakes his head like a belligerent child. “You embarrass her?—”

I grab Jeremy and walk toward the exit. “Let’s go.”

Nate follows closely behind. “You’re my wife…just talk to me.”

I turn around, and he slams right into me. His cologne hits my nostrils, and I fight to regain my balance. It’s because he just ran into me, not because his cologne brings back memories or anything.

It’s not like I’m picturing the face he would make before pushing into me, the way his eyes would fixate on mine as if he were spellbound. I’m not thinking of the secrets we shared while lying in bed at night.

I shake my head and try to regain focus. “Now you want to talk. What about a few weeks ago when I tried to explain myself to you?”

He tries to touch me, and I take a step back. “Don’t—you threw me out. You don’t get to pick up like nothing happened. If you’ll excuse me, Jeremy and I are going home together—and we’re going to have sex.”

Jeremy immediately jumps in. “Jesus. That is absolutely not true. At all. I haven’t touched her.”

He glances around wildly before shooting me a death glare.

Oh, right, Grey has ears everywhere. Almost forgot about that.

“We’ve had sex before, though—we might do it again. Just sex… all night long.”

“Fucking hell,” Jeremy hisses. “Are you trying to get me killed?”

Nate starts laughing to the point that he has tears in his eyes.

“Did you just use sex as a verb? Now I know you’re lying.

” He sways again and has to brace himself on a pillar.

Once he’s steady, he pulls his car keys from his pocket.

“Guess I’ll just drive myself home then. I hope I make it in one piece.”

“How much did you have to drink?” I change lanes to avoid a car before glancing over at him .

He rubs his temple. “Not enough—I’m running on two hours of sleep here. Whiskey just added insult to injury.”

“Did you work last night?”

Nate shakes his head and shifts closer to me. “Nope. I was in Colorado. I needed to see you, so I drove back.”

Don’t you do it, heart. You stay right there and keep beating as though this means nothing.

“Oh…so you came back yesterday?”

You’ve got this, Kate.

Nate’s hand reaches across the console and rests on my thigh. “I drove all night. So, why’d you lie about Jeremy?”

His hand finds the hem of my dress and begins inching the material upward.

“I—I don’t know. Can you not do that while I’m driving? It makes it hard to focus.”

He ignores me and begins stroking the front of my panties. “Have you let him touch you like this?”

I fight the urge to throw my head back and moan, instead focusing on street signs.

22 nd Street…

23 rd Street…

He pulls my underwear to the side and pushes a finger inside of me.

24567 th Street…

Eleventy Hundred Million Avenue…

A Trillion Bazillion Court…

“Come for me, Katy girl.”

I moan loudly even as I curb-check the tires of his car. I come with a small cry, but the high is gone almost immediately, and I’m sick over what I just allowed him to do.

“I said not to touch me—I’m trying to get you home safely.”

He pulls his hand back and sucks his finger clean, and I almost drive up onto the sidewalk again. “Now you know how it feels. I’d say we’re even. Are you going to talk to me now? ”

Miraculously, I find his house and park his car straight in the driveway.

“You’re here.” I unbuckle and get out.

“Stay with me.” He gestures toward the house, and I want to say yes. I’m going to need an emergency session with Nicole about this one.

“No. This doesn’t change anything between us. I’m still just a girl you enjoy having sex with. That’s not enough to make a marriage work.”

He slams the car door and walks over to me. “I’m sorry, Katy girl. I’m drunk, and I’m screwing it all up, but I want to take care of you. I was worried sick when I found out you had pneumonia, and it killed me that I wasn’t there for you. I never want to experience that again—let me fix this.”

I shake my head. “Oh no, your god complex can’t get you out of this. Some things are just beyond fixing. What happens the next time Jess snaps her fingers? You know you’ll go running to help her.”

He exhales and leans back against his car.

“Jess is gone. I can’t believe I believed her over you.

I’m sorry and I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you.

You’ve seen the real side of me—that’s not something I share with just anyone.

What we have is special. You said you loved me once; give me another chance. ”

Jeremy pulls up in my Tahoe, and I look at Nate sadly. “Girls will say anything to get laid, Nate.”

Then I turn my back on him and get into my car, tears hitting my cheeks before the door closes.

Jeremy touches my arm. “You okay?”

I just shake my head and press my lips together as if doing so will keep the flood of tears inside.

There’s nothing sadder in the world than driving away from a man who has your heart wrapped around his finger and knowing that you’re leaving it with him permanently.

I’d waited my whole life to be loved fiercely, and for a brief moment, it was everything I had imagined it to be, but crashing back to earth left me broken.

I can’t imagine ever voluntarily putting myself through that again.