Page 30 of Text Me A Kiss

Chapter Eleven

Graham

Can I call you?

I glanced at the bottom right corner of my office computer. It was only 10:53 AM, but I could take a few minutes’ break for my Kitten anytime. I called her instead.

“Hey, Graham.”

Her voice cracked a little on my name, and I immediately lost my comfortable lounging position and leaned forward. “What, what’s wrong?”

“Um… nothing’s wrong, exactly. But can you come any sooner?”

I leaned over the phone, fiddling anxiously with the loose handle on the desk drawer. “Sure, babe. I can come anytime you want.”

“Today?”

Now I was really worried. “Today? If you need me, I’m there. Right now?”

“Oh no, no.” Flustered was so unusual for Kady. “But… after work? As soon as you can?”

“Of course, Kitten. I’ll be there by 7,” I promised.

“Okay. Thanks.” Her voice was small, unsure, and she hung up before I could answer.

I didn’t take a single break. My fingers typed away straight through lunch. Even when I called Tracy to ask her to reschedule my last two meetings, I barely heard her replies. I had to finish this—finish everything—so I could comfort my Kitten and do everything in my power to fix whatever was on her mind.

On my way,I texted her from my jet at 3 PM.

So soon?

I want to see you. Be there by 5:30.

Before the jet even rolled to a stop at the airport, I texted Kitten “onw mmy way”, misspelling everything in my haste to catch a cab. By exactly 5:30 I was calling her, waiting for her to pick up and impatiently pacing outside her apartment building.

Her lithe hand appeared around the side of the door as she pushed it open, and I had her in my arms before she could even step out. She relaxed into me, her breath gentle and regular against my chest. “Hey Kitten,” I murmured into the dark brown hair I’d come to love running my fingers through.

“Hey.”

I chuckled gently. Her voice was so soft and quiet as she clung to me. I wanted to protect her, keep her wrapped around me and held close in my arms forever.

“Sorry.” She stepped back, and for the first time I noticed the tiredness in her chocolate eyes. “Come in?”

“Of course. What’s wrong?”

She led me inside and sat on the sofa, tugging at my hand to pull me down beside her. We sat with our shoulders leaning against the back of the sofa, holding hands. Kitten squeezed mine like she could never let go. “We, um… need to talk.”

She could talk to me about anything and everything, and I tried to tell her through the warmth of my hands and compassion in my eyes that her trust meant everything to me. “Anything, Kitten.”

“I… I’m… hold on.”

I sat stock still with my hands closed around air, blinking at the suddenness with which Kady had dropped my hands and dashed into the bathroom. Before I could blink a second time, she was back, a plastic Ziploc bag in hand. Her fingers clenched it so tight that I couldn’t tell what was inside.

“So, uh… the other day—last week—I was noticing some stuff. A-about me.”

Now I was thoroughly confused and no less worried. “Something about ballet?”

“No. About the way I was feeling. Like I felt off….” She stopped, frustrated, turning the bag over and over in her hands. “Just take it. And look.”