Chapter9
Kellan
Idon’twanttobethatfriendthat saysItoldyouso,butIknewhewouldhurt her.Iamjustgladhediditandshefound outbeforetheygotmarried.
As,Isithereandlistenedtohertellmethat shefoundoutColtwascheatingonher,allI couldthinkwasthankGod,shelefthim, andIstil haveachance.Iknowthatsounds bad,butIcan’thelpit.Forthelasttwoand ahalfmonthsIthoughtIhadlosther forever.Iwillnotwastemychancethis time.
So,insteadoftalking,Igrabherandplace herinmylap,thenbeforeshecanspeak, mylipsareonhers.
IhaveneverkissedKaty,butdamn,it feelssoright.Irunmytongueacrossher bottomlipandsheopensforme.Islidemy
tongueinanddeepenthekiss.Hermouth tastesosweet.Whenherfingersslideinto myhair,Imoan.Idon’twanttorushthings, soIkissheralittlelongerbeforepul ing back.
WhenIpul backandlookintohereyes,I seethattheyareglazedover.Ismiledown ather.
“Wel ,thatwas…”
Icutinbeforeshecanfinishthesentence,
“awesome.”
“Wel ,Iwasgoingtosayasurprise, butawesomeworks.”
Ilaugh.“Now,sinceyouweregoingtostay withthedick,Iassumeyouhaveabagwith you.”
“Yeah,Ileftitinthecar,why?”
Itakeabreathandprayshewilltakemeup onmyoffer.“Wel ,youcanjuststayhere withmetonight.”
“Areyousure?Ididn’tcomehereto crashyourtimehome.Ijustneededtosee you.Thisisgoingtosoundweird,butI neededyoutomakeitbetter.”
“Iunderstandandit’snotweird.
Look,youcanstayhere.Iwillrunyoua bath,andthenIwil gogetyourbag,you don’tworryaboutanythingbutgetting goodandrelaxed.”
Shedoesn’tsayanything,juststaresatme.
Notgivinghertoomuchtimetothink,I usherherintothebathroom.Ifindthebath salts,Ihavekepthereforher,justincase sheeverstayedover,andemptytheminto thetub.Then,Iturnandplacingbothmy handsonherface,Isay,“goaheadandget intothetub,IwillbebackafterIgetyour bag.”
Iplaceakissonherforehead,thenleaveto getherbag.WhenIreturn,Igivealight knockonthedoor,andpushitopen.Iplace herbagonthecounter,thenturntoKaty.
Sheislyinginthetub,thewaterbarely coveringhertits.Herearbudsareinher earsandhereyesareclosed.Ileandown andgentlypul oneofherearbudsoutof herears.Sheturnsherheadandlooksat me,butdoesn’ttrytocoverherself.Itake thatasagoodsignthatthekissdidn’tfreak herout.
“Iplacedyourbagonthecounter.Is thereanythingelseIcangetyou?”
Shegivesmeasmile,“no,butthankyou.I dohaveaquestionthough.”
“Ok,goahead.”
“Howdidyouknowwhatkindofbath saltsIliked?”
“IknowyouandIwaswithyouonce whenyouboughtthem.”
Shesmilesatme.“Imissedyou.”
“Missedyoutoo,babe.”
IstandandturntoleavebeforeIdo anythingIwil regret.IwanttotellherthatI
wantustotakeourfriendshiptothenext levelandIalsowanttotakethingsslow withherifsheagrees.So,stayingand takingherinthebathisnotagoodidea.
“Iwil beintheotherroomifyou needme.”Itel her,thenslipoutthedoor.
Katyissofreakingbeautiful.Shenotonlyis kindandloving,butsheistoughasnails.
Shedoesn’tallowanyonetowalkallover herandshetreatseveryonethesame,no matterhowmuchmoneyyouhave.
Katyhastreatedme,Maddox,Daneand Kanethesamewaysincewewerekids.
Whenwebecamefamous,thatdidn’t change.Shestilltellsushowitisandfights withuswhenneedbe.Shedoesn’tletthe famechangewhosheisorwhoweareto her.
Sheisstil mybestfriendfromchildhood.
MyKaty.Theonlypersonwhoknowshow muchIloveherisMaddox.Hehasnever askedbuthejustknows.Heknewthefirst timeIstartedseeingherasmorethanjust
myfriend.Heisalsotheonewhohastold meovertheyearstojusttel herhowIfelt andseewhereitwent.Butwhenshetold meshewasengagedtothedick,wel that wasthelaststraw.
Now,Iamdeterminedtotakethisslow.I wanttodoitright,soslowisthebestway togo,evenifitkil sme;andwell,honestly, itjustmight.
Chapter10
Katy
Ihavenoideawhatjusthappened.
OneminuteIwastel ingKel anwhat happenedwithColtandthenextminute,I wasinhislapandhewaskissingme.I mean,I’mnotcomplaining.Itwasthebest kissIhaveeverhad.Ihavewaitedforyears forhimtokissmelikethat,butnowI’vegot towonderwhy.Whynow?
Iamlayinginhisbathtub,withmyfavorite kindofbathsalts,CarrieUnderwood playinginmyear,tryingtorelaxenoughto gobackouttherewithhim.
IknowthiswholeColtthingismyownfault.
Ishouldhavelistenedtomyinstinctsand toldhimno,whenheaskedmetomarry him.Instead,IthoughtIcouldmarryColt andthatwoulderasemyfeelingsforKellan.
God,Iamsostupid.
Myskinisstartingtoprune,soIguessit’s timeformetogetoutofthetub.Wrapped inatowel,Igotomybagandpulloutmy tankandpanties.Ididn’tbringanysleep shortsorsleeppantssince,Iwasplanning onstayingwithmyfiancée,notmybest friend.IwonderifhehasanypantsIcan borrow,ifnotthenIhopeheisokwithme runningaroundinjustmytankandpanties.
WhenIwalkoutofthebathroom,Kel anis sittingonthecouchwatchingTV.
“Hey,Kellananddoyouhaveany
sleeppantsIcanborrow?”
Whenheturnshisheadtolookatme,his mouthjusthangsopen.
“Um…Isorry.Ididn’tbringanysleep pantsorshorts,sounlessyouhavesome pantsIcanborrow,Ihopeyoudon’tmind mebeinginjustmytankandpanties.”
“No,Ilikeyoujustlikethat.hejesters towardmyhalfnakedlowerhalf.“Comeon overhereandsitdown.Wecanfind somethingtogether.”
Iwalkoverandsitdownbesidehim.Igrab athrowblanketoffthebackofthecouch andcurlupintothesideofthecouch.
“So,whatdoyouwanttowatch?”
“I’l watchwhateveryouwant,”Itell him.
Iwatchashestopsonfootball.Idon’treally careforfootballbutIdon’tsayanything.I watchthetvforaboutanhour,beforeIget bored.Ineedtofindsomethingtodo.
SeeingoneofKel an’sguitarssittinginthe corner,Iwalkoverandgrabit.Istart dancingaroundandtryingtosinglike Maddox.
Kellanwatchesme,thenstartstolaughat myimpressionofMaddox.
“Oh,nowthisisgood.Yousound
nothinglikehim,buttheimpressionis pricelessandifMaddoxlookedhalfasgood asyoudoinnothingbuthisunderwearand atank,Ithinkwewouldhavewaymore fans.”
IchangethesongIammockingtoAngel.
It’soneofChao’sslowersongs,butoneof myfavorites.WhenIstarttosing,Iswaymy hipsandturnincircles.WhenIlookoverat Kellan,hehasalighterintheair,wavingit aroundandheissmilingatme.
Iwalkovertohim,standinfrontofhim, handhimhisguitarandsay,“play somethingforme.Please?”Ihavealways lovedtojustsitandlistentohimplay.Even whenwewerekids.
Hetakestheguitar,sittingittotheside, thenpullsmeintohislap.“Iwanttotalkto youaboutsomethingfirst.”
“Ok”
“Ihavebeenthinkingalotaboutthis and…”hepauses,thenstartsagain,“We havebeenfriendsalongtime,andwellI wasthinkingthatmaybewecouldtrytobe morethanfriends.Iwouldlikeforustogive arelationshipatry.”
Ican’tsayanything.Imusthaveheardhim wrong.HedidnotjustsaythewordsI
have
beenwantingtohearforyears.Findingmy voice,Isay,“canyousaythatagain?Ithink Imisunderstoodwhatyousaid?”
Hesmirksatme,thensays,“Iwantustobe acouple.”
“Likeboyfriendandgirlfriend?Like dating?”
“Yes,toboth.”
“Yes!!”Iscream!ThenIfusemylips tohis.
WhenIpul away,Ihaveasmileonmyface.
“Areyousurethisiswhatyouwant?What happensifitdoesn’tworkout?”
“Thenwegobacktobeingfriends.I wantustoalwaysbefriends,nomatter what.Promiseme,thatnomatterwhat,we wil alwaysbefriends.”
“Ipromise.”
Thenhislipsareonmine.WhenIopenfor him,heslideshistongueintomymouth
andIsuckonit.Whenheletsoutagroan,I pullback.
“Now,playmesomething.”
HesmilesbutdoesasIask.
Chapter11
Kellan
Igrabtheguitarandbegintoplay.
Katyhasalwayslovedtohearmeplay.
Whenwewerekids,shewouldsitinmy roomwithmeandjustlistenforhours, whileIplayedandmessedaround,tryingto geteverythinginmyheadtosoundgoodon paper.
Istarttoplayherasong,onethatI startedtowriteaboutamonthago.It’s abouther,butshewon’tknowthat.Idon’t singanything,justplay.WhenI’mdone,she justlooksatme.
“What?”
“That’sgoingtobesomewhatofa lovesong,isn’tit?”
“Maybe.”
“Didyouwriteit?”
“Wealldid.”
Idon’twanthertoknowyet,thatit’sabout her,soItel herasmal whitelie.
“Wel ,whenit’sdone,itwil be awesome.”
“Howdoyouknow?Therearen’t
evenanywordstoityet?”
“Ijustdo.”Shesayswithasmile.
Ihadn’trealizedit,butwhilewewere talking,Katyhadleanedin,andherlipsare justinchesfrommine,justasIleaninto closetheinches,there’saknockonmy door. Katyjerksbackandawayfromme.
Gettingupandwalkingtowardthedoor,I mumble,“I’mgoingtokil whoeverisatthe damndoor.”Openingthedoor,standing thereisMaddox.Before,Icansayanything, hesays,
“Theywantmetoworkwith her. ”
sneeringtheherandpushingpastme,into thehouseatthesametime.
“Whoexactlyis her?”
“Sophia”
“Ok,andthat’saproblemhow?”
SeeingKatyisnowstandinginthehallway, withapairofmysweatpantson,Ismile.
MaddoxlooksatKaty,thensays,“Hi,Katy Kat.”
“HeyMad,what’sgoingon?”
“Icouldaskyouthesamequestion,”
hesayswithasmirk.
IwatchasKatyflushesred.Ismile.
“So,backtomyquestion,howis
workingwithSophia,abadthing?”
Maddoxsauntersovertothecouchand flopsdown.
“Wel ,forone,sheisuptight,andshe isastuck-upbitch,thatdoesn’tknowhow toletloose.”
“So,whatdoesthathavetodowith workingwithher?”
“Ican’tworkwithsomeonelikethat.
Shewil kil allmyflowwithher haughtiness.”
“Ithinkyoucanandwil befine.Ialso thinkyouandherwillmakeawesome music.”
Lookingaround,Iseeit’sjustmeand Maddoxintheroomnow.Iguesswhenshe heardMaddoxcomplainingshedecidedto disappearintomybedroom.Isitdown besidehimandsay,“So,isthatthereal reasonwhyyoucameover?”
Heletsoutabreath,thensays,“honestly,I wasworriedaboutyoufucker,but…”
“butwhat?”
Hejerkshisheadtowardmy
bedroom,“WhyisKatyhere?”
ItellhimwhatKatytoldmewentdown withColt.IcanseeMaddoxgettingmore upset,themoreItalk.
“So,areyougoingtotellherhowyou feelabouther?”
Iclearmythroat,thensay,“Well,Ikindof did.”
“Kindof?”
“ItoldherIwantedustotryandhave arelationship,morethanjustfriends.”
“Whatdidshesay?”
“Shesaidyes,rightbeforeIkissed her.”
“Areyousurethisisagoodidea?”
Maddoxstandsandlooksdownatme.“Let meknowhowitworksoutforyou.”Then, heturnsandwalksout.
IgetupandgotofindKaty.Opening mybedroomdoor,Ifindherasleepinmy bed.Turningthelightsoff,Islideinbehind
her,pullhertome,wrapmyarmsaround her,andfal asleep,holdingher.
Chapter12
Katy
IwakewrappedinKellan’sarms.
Rememberinglastnight,Ismile.Kel an wantsarelationshipwithme.That’sthe onethingIhavealwayswanted.Looking overattheclock,itreadseightforty-five.I jumpoutofbedandsearchformybag.
Fuck!I’mgoingtobelateopeningtheshop.
Ihavenever,notoncebeenlateopening myshop.Findingmybag,Ipul outmy phoneandturniton.Whileit’scomingup,I quicklydress.Finally,whenmyphoneison, IcallJosie.
“Hel o.”
“Hey,I’mrunninglate.Canyoutake careofmyfirstclient,untilIgetthere?”
“Yeah,surebosslady.I’vegotyou covered.”
“Thankyou.Seeyouinthirty.”
Ihangupthephone,andwhenIlookup, Kellaniswatchingme.Hecrookshisfinger atmeandgivesmeacomeheremotion.I shakemyheadnoathim. Hedoesitagain, andagainIshakemyheadnoathim.
“Ican’t.I’malreadyrunninglate.”
“Ifyoudon’tcomehere,I’mgoingto makeyoureallate,whenIcatchyou.”
Atthatstatement,Iclimbontothebedand lookdownathim.Hegrabsmyarmand pullsmedown,untilIamhalfontopofhim.
Heislayingonhisbackandthatputsour lipsjustinchesapart.Thenhesays,“You’re notleavingwithoutgivingmeakiss.”
Thenhislipsareonmine.Iwrapmyarms aroundhisneckandlethimdeepenthekiss whenIfeelhishandonthesideofmy breast.Ipullback.
“Ireallydohavetogo.I’malready forty-fiveminuteslate,andmyfirstclientis atnine.”
“Ok.Wil youcomebackhere
tonight?”
Ismile,thensay,“Iguess,ifyouwantme to.”
“Hel yeah,Iwantyoutoo.”
Ismileevenbigger,thensay,“ok,thenI’ll behereafterIcloseuptheshop.”
Withonelastkiss,Ileave.
Onceattheshop,mydaygoesby
fairlywell,untilaroundthree.That’swhen Coltshowedup.Ittookal Ihad,nottoyel andthrowstuffathim.Instead,Ipulledon mybiggirlpantiesandleadhimtomy office.
Onceinmyoffice,Ishutthedoor,brace myselfforhisliesandturntofacehim.
“Whatdoyouwant?”
“Whydidyouleavelastnight?Ihave beencal ingyoual nightandtoday.”
“WhydidIleave?”Inearlyscreamit athim.“Oh,youareapieceofwork.”I
placemyhandsonmyhips,before continuing,“Letmesee,doesthissound familiar,sorrybaby,Ican’tmakeourdate, somethingcameupatwork,yeah,wecan reschedule,Loveyoutoo.Yeahthat’sright, Iheardyourconversation.Youcheatingson ofabitch!”
“Kat,youmisunderstood.”
“OhYeah,Imisunderstoodalright.”I saysarcastically.“TheonlythingI misunderstoodwasthatyouwereagood guy.Now,letmemakemyselfcompletely clear.Youandme,”andIpointtohimand me,“we’redone
.Iwillnotnownorever marryyou.So,thebestthingyoucando,is turnaroundandwalkrightoutthatdoor andforgetyouevermetme.”
“ComeonKaty.Iloveyou.”
Itakeadeepbreath,Iamrunningoutof patiencewithhimandthisconversation.
“No,youdon’tandIdon’tloveyou.Now, leave.”
Iwalkoverandopenthedoor,gesturingfor himtoleave.
Onceheisoutofmyshop,Igoback tomyclient.Therestofthedaygoesbyas normal.However,Ijusthavethisfeeling thatthisissuewithColtisnotover.Around seven,Icloseupmyshopandheadhome tograbsomemoreclothes.Thistime,Igrab somesleepclothes.ThenIheadtoKellan’s.
WhenIgetthere,itappearsthatallthe guysarehere.It’snothingforallofthemto betogether,so,Idon’tbothertoknock, sincenoonewouldhearmeanyways,and justgoonin.Hearingthemusic,Ifollowthe sounduntilIendupatthelastroomdown thehallway.
Walkingintotheroom,theyal stopand stareatme.