Bit by the Bug (Matthews Sisters 1) (28 page)

‘Then you fight for it,’ Lily whispered, putting her hand over his as she hugged herself to his side. ‘If you truly love her like that, you grab on and don’t let go. None of the rest matters.’

‘I don’t know.’ He stared out the window. ‘This is all so fast. I think I need just a little bit of time.

‘Can I have some cash for the taxi?’ Kat stood in Zoe’s entryway, shaking as she tried not to cry. It was obvious by the horrified look on Zoe’s face that she looked atrocious. Her sister was dressed for bed, in a pair of red polka dot pyjama shorts, a white tank top and nothing else.

‘Yeah,’ Zoe said, nodding frantically. She hurried into her small apartment and grabbed her wallet off a table near the front door. Handing it to Kat, she waited while Kat ran down the flight of stairs and paid the taxi driver.

‘Oh, Kat,’ Zoe said, holding the door open for her as she came back up. ‘Sweetie, I’m so sorry. It didn’t go well, did it?’

Kat merely shook her head in denial, unable to answer.

Zoe’s apartment was small, but it was near her job and that’s what mattered to her sister. Rugs covered the old floors, hiding the warped boards. Kat had helped her decorate and knew most of the posters and scarves hanging on the walls covered holes in the old plaster.
There was a small living room, an even smaller kitchen, one bedroom and a bathroom smaller than Kat’s closet.

Kat put Zoe’s wallet on an old table in the small entryway. When she looked up, her pale face stared back at her from the tarnished antique mirror. Black eyeliner had dried in trails down her cheeks from when she’d been crying. Her hair was a mess, held halfway up in the twist. She pulled at it, letting it fall over her shoulders. It was still messy, but she didn’t care. Kat rubbed at her cheek, but the black only smeared.

Zoe came up behind her, slipping a hand onto her shoulder. Kat rubbed harder at her face. Gently, her sister touched her cheek, stilling Kat’s hand. Turning, she looked at Zoe, shook her head and threw her arms around her sister, crying.

‘Oh, Kat,’ Zoe whispered, holding her. They stood in the hall, not talking about what had happened, not needing to. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘That’s it!’ Zoe marched into Kat’s apartment, followed by Sasha, Megan, Ella and Flora. ‘You’ve been hiding out, listening to . . . what is this music anyway?’

‘“Why Can’t I?” by Liz Phair,’ Ella said.

‘She’s had it on repeat again today,’ Flora added. ‘I’ll turn it off.’

Kat hid her head in the couch, burrowing into the pillow as she refused to get up. The music stopped.

‘I’ll start the shower,’ Megan said.

‘I’ll make food,’ Flora added. ‘Zoe, would you mind putting the groceries in the kitchen for me?’

‘Yeah, I’ll help you,’ Zoe said.

‘Great,’ Sasha’s voice was closer than any of them, but Kat still refused to look up as she heard them bustling around her apartment. ‘That leaves Ella and me to get your lazy ass off this couch.’

‘Ah, there, some light,’ Ella announced from the direction of the windows.

Kat groaned, not wanting to look.

‘Let in some fresh air,’ Zoe called. ‘The air is so stale in here and it’s a beautiful day.’

‘All right, sis, come on. You smell like ass,’ said Sasha. Kat felt a pull on her arm and groaned louder. ‘Get. Up. Now.’

Sasha pulled her off the side of the couch, dragging her onto the floor along with her pillow. Kat finally looked up to find Ella and Sasha staring down at her.

‘This really isn’t the way to handle your problems,’ Ella said, shaking her head.

‘What would you know?’ Kat grumbled, curling up on the floor. ‘You’ve never felt like this.’

‘And you’re only going to continue to feel like this if you don’t get off your smelly ass and do something about it,’ Sasha said.

‘I hate you,’ Kat groaned. ‘Leave my lazy smelly ass alone. I hate all of you. Leave me be.’

‘Well, that’s just something we’ll have to live with,’ Megan walked over to her feet. ‘Now, do I restrain you to get you in that shower, or do you go willingly?’

‘Don’t play cop with me,’ Kat mumbled, hugging her pillow tighter.

‘The hard way, my favourite,’ Megan announced. She grabbed Kat’s foot and started dragging her and her pillow across the floor.

Kat couldn’t help herself, she chuckled and kicked her foot. ‘Fine, I’m going. Get off me.’

‘Damn, and I was so looking forward to handcuffing you to the shower,’ Megan teased.

Kat stood, carrying her pillow with her as she trudged towards the bathroom. ‘You know, it’s only been three days. A girl is allowed a week minimum to wallow in self-pity.’

‘Kat, it’s Friday,’ Ella corrected. ‘It’s been five days.’

Friday? What happened to the two days she lost? Kat paused, scratching her head. Her hair felt gross and she drew her hand away.

‘Ella, come help me carry this pile of laundry down to the basement. Zoe doesn’t need me meddling in the kitchen,’ Flora said. ‘And from the looks of it, Kat won’t have a clean thing to wear when she gets out of the shower.’

Kat shut the bathroom door and stepped into the shower. The hot water beat down on her, stinging her skin. For a long time she stood, soaking in the warmth, unable to do more than just breathe with her eyes closed. Finally, she grabbed her shampoo and began washing
her hair, feeling better the cleaner she got. Somehow, she even found the energy to shave.

Stepping out, she glanced around. Her robe was missing and a folded towel was on the floor. She dried off and wrapped up in the towel. The faint smell of food was in the air and her stomach growled in response. Zoe was cooking. That always aroused her appetite. Going to her bedroom, she looked around for something to wear. ‘Where are all my clothes?’

‘Ella and Flora took them,’ Megan yelled.

‘They weren’t all dirty,’ Kat said.

‘They were all on the floor,’ Megan answered.

Frowning, Kat went to her dresser and opened a drawer. The only thing she found was an ugly frock dress she used on laundry day, if even then. Its shapeless form fit her like a garbage bag. She put on an old tank top with it. The thing had holes, but the dress covered them

‘Whoo hoo,’ Sasha teased. ‘The fashion queen arrives.’

‘Shut up,’ Kat mumbled. ‘Someone stole all my other clothes. It was either this or a towel. And if you think this looks bad, you should see the grannie panties I’ve got on.’

‘I’ll get a brush,’ Sasha offered.

Kat sat down by her drafting table. Pictures of bugs stared up at her and she had to turn her back on them. Anytime she saw a bug, she’d think of Vincent. She’d never be free of him.

‘Here we go.’ Sasha set to work brushing her hair.

Kat reached up, stopping her hand. ‘Thank you.’

‘That’s what sisters are for, Kat. Now, just let us take care of you.’ Sasha again started brushing her hair. ‘Everything’s going to be all right now. We’re here and we’re going to work it all out. You’ll see, we’re going to come up with the perfect plan.’

‘I don’t think there is one,’ Kat said.

‘What about your things? You still need to go to the office and pick up your stuff. It’s a perfect excuse.’

‘It would be, but Mimi had them delivered for me.’ Kat reached behind her, and grabbed a piece of parchment. ‘It came with this.’

Sasha picked up the note and read, ‘Miss Matthews, for your convenience your personal belongings will be following shortly by courier. Thank you for a job well done. Mr Howard Faustino is expecting you Friday at one o’clock.’

‘Lovely, eh?’ Kat said.

‘That’s today, Kat,’ Sasha said. ‘You can still make it. We’ll help you put together a portfolio, if you want.’

‘What’s going on?’ Zoe asked from the door. She wore an apron that was lightly covered in flour.

‘Kat’s got an appointment today to show some work to the owner of Faux Pas.’ Sasha lifted the note towards Zoe.

‘What?’ Zoe took it and read. When she’d finished, she asked, ‘Are you going?’

‘No.’ Kat shook her head.

‘But, there is still time to –’ Sasha began.

‘No,’ she said louder. ‘I don’t want it anymore. Not this way. Faux Pas is tainted for me now.’

‘But, if you don’t show up, Mr Faustino may never see you again,’ Sasha insisted. ‘What about your dream? This is what you’ve always wanted.’

‘Sasha,’ Zoe said quietly, shaking her head. ‘Don’t push.’

‘But . . .?’ Sasha shrugged. ‘OK. Fine.’

‘Don’t worry about it, Sash,’ Kat said. ‘You’re right. I did want my own art show more than anything, but now I want something else. I want Vincent. I love him.’

‘Then we’ll find a way to get him.’ Sasha placed her hands on her shoulders and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

‘Who’s backing the show, Jack?’ Kat asked, forcing her way into her ex-boyfriend’s home. The air smelled of incense and candles, a little too chokingly so.

Jack stood in his blue jeans and nothing else. Frowning as she passed him, he said, ‘Do come in.’

‘Don’t get grumpy with me,’ Kat snapped. The front door opened into his living room, but she didn’t make a move to go much further into his home.

Jack shut his door and crossed over to his black leather couch. Sitting, he stretched his arms along the back. ‘What do you want me to say?’

‘I want you to tell me the truth. Something about the look on your face when you proposed really bothers me,’ Kat said.

‘It should. You turned me down.’

‘Oh, just stop it.’ She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted a brow.

‘You look good, Kat,’ he said. ‘Is that a new dress?’

Automatically she glanced down to the ugly, shapeless grey frock she wore over the old white tank top. ‘Shut up.’

‘Touchy,’ he said under his breath.

‘Stop pretending to be hurt over my rejection,’ Kat said. ‘Now tell me who your backer is.’

‘I don’t see how it matters.’

‘It’s the Richmonds, isn’t it? They backed your show, didn’t they?’ she insisted. He didn’t have to speak. She read the answer on his face. ‘What did they demand in return, Jack?’

Looking away, he didn’t answer.

‘I knew it. They got to you. That’s what they do. They offer what you want most and make you do things. They offered to back your show and move it to Broadway if you proposed to me and got me to leave Vincent. That’s why you were so mad. You were scared since I said no that you wouldn’t get your show after all.’

‘I’m sorry, Kat.’ Jack’s eyes met hers. ‘But, it’s Broadway.’

‘For me it was Faux Pas,’ Kat answered, plopping down in his chair. She gave a small laugh.

‘You?’ Jack sat up in surprise. ‘The scientist? Their son? They bribed you to be with him? And then they bribed me to get you away from him? But why?’

‘That’s just what they do.’ Kat closed her eyes, sighing. ‘They manipulate.’

‘I am sorry, Kat, but I can’t give up the Broadway show. I was mad the day I proposed, but only because I thought they’d take it away, but it was too late. It was already in the papers and tickets had been sold. Anyway, it turned out they really didn’t care if you said yes, just as long as their son saw me give the proposal. I am sorry, Kat, but I want this too much. This is my chance. It’s Broadway.’

She slowly stood. The way Jack said it reminded her of what she must have sounded like when they first offered her a chance at Faux Pas. ‘I know. I’m not here to ask you to give up the show. I just came for the truth.’

‘I’m glad the truth’s out. That day, when you saw me coming out of your sister’s restaurant, I was sure you were there to bust Mr Richmond.’

‘Mr Richmond was the man Zoe saw you with?’ Kat asked.

He nodded. ‘Richmond was checking your sister out as well, I think. I’m sorry for doing that to you, Kat. I really would have married you,’ Jack stood, ‘if that’s what you wanted.’

‘Thanks, but I think we’ve both had enough of the convenience of being with each other.’ She turned to go. ‘Good luck with the show. Knock ’em dead.’

‘Wait, what about you? Are you going to tell me about Faux Pas? We’re still friends, Kat. I want to go to your show. I still believe in you.’

Kat laughed softly. ‘No. There isn’t going to be a show. There is no way the Richmonds would set it up for me now. And even if they did, I wouldn’t take it.’

‘Why? Oh my . . . Kat! It’s because of the scientist, isn’t it? That Victor guy.’

‘Vincent,’ she corrected.

‘You like him, don’t you?’ Jack asked in awe. ‘You like their son. They hired you to do one thing and now you really like him.’

‘No, Jack,’ Kat looked him straight in the eye, ‘I love him.’

‘Would you choose him over Faux Pas?’

Kat looked at the clock on his VCR. It was one fifteen. She gave him a sad smile and nodded. ‘I already have.’

The city rolled by the taxi, a backdrop to the reflection of her pale face in the window. A streak of orange slashed through her bangs, falling across her face. Her make-up was dark around the eyes, with the faintest hint of orange and red eye shadow. The orange in her hair matched her orange bohemian style dress. It had a high waistline and a tiered peasant skirt that flowed when she walked. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she needed to dye her hair back to a blonde-brown and put on a more elegant dress.

No, Kat told herself. He needs to see me for me. No more lies.

She’d been up late with her sisters. They’d camped out on her living room floor, all but Megan who was called into work. The oldest Matthews left around ten o’clock, but not before offering to have Vincent arrested if he didn’t forgive her. It was around the same time Flora fell asleep on the couch.

Spending all that time with her family did much to boost her morale, but now as the taxi pulled in front of Vincent’s building, she shivered with fear. What if he didn’t want to see her? Already she had gone to his office to find him and it had taken her a half hour before she worked up the nerve to go inside. The front door was locked signifying he wasn’t there. Now she was in front of his house.

Glancing both ways down the tree-lined sidewalk,
before gazing up the side of the building to the top where she knew Vincent’s apartment was, she took a deep breath. This was it. The moment of truth.