Chase Me (8 page)

“Now say goodbye,” Eddie growled tightening his hold, flexing his biceps. Kurt didn’t get to say anything as Eddie led him to the door. He opened the door and practically dragged him to the curb before letting him go.

They exchanged words I couldn’t hear. It was a testosterone war, but I didn’t know if it was about me, over me, or because of me.

I watched until Kurt leaned over and puked. Eddie hailed him a cab and got him inside. Then he turned and came back inside the diner threw money on the table and held out his hand for me.

“Want to tell me what the hell I have gotten myself into having coffee with you?” Eddie asked and I shook my head.

The silence was irritating. I swear I could hear the words whore circling in the air just waiting for my ears to open up and absorb them.

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I stated and Eddie merely looked over at me. “I don’t apologize for how I live my life or how I cope with my problems,” Eddie continued to look at me which made me feel like I had to keep talking.

“I went to a hockey game with my best friend Brooklyn and her friend Mark right after graduation a few years ago and I met Kurt. His team was headed to playoffs or whatever and they were going to trade him, so I took him home and thought that for one minute in time I could escape my life, and I wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences because he would be gone. Only he didn’t leave, he signed on for two three year contracts since then.”

Eddie continued to look at me. I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. I had already said more than I wanted and more than I should, but his demeanor told me that he wanted and explanation and wanted it now. I wasn’t capable of giving it to him.

“Thank you for stepping in. I don’t know how that would have gone if you hadn’t of been there.”

“You’re welcome,” Eddie growled. Then he turned to look out the window as we headed toward his house.

“I’m not a whore!” I stated defensively, and Eddie’s head whipped back around to look at me with confusion.

“I never said you were a whore,” he self-justified. “I have never called anyone anything even remotely close to that. In fact, I wouldn’t label you.”

Guilt suddenly took control of my body. I was stressed that my mom was having surgery very soon. The one guy who I had known for only a few hours, but had assumed he could be a treasured asset now knew exactly what I did when I didn’t want him to. I was putting degrading words in his mouth when he hadn’t said anything. I had to end the night on a good note or Mike would hear every sordid detail.

“Want Skittles?” I asked as I pulled a bag from my purse. “I only eat the red ones, but you can have the rest.”

“I want the red ones,” Eddie grinned and all tension seemed to dissipate with his dimples showing. I hadn’t noticed them before because I was hooked on his chiseled body I knew had to be hiding under that suit and his bedroom eyes that always gave me a come-hither look.
I bet he had a ten-year-old wife like my sperm donor.

“I will give you half of the red ones,” I smiled and went to open the bag while trying to hold the steering wheel. The bag popped and exploded everywhere. “Well that worked out just like I thought,” I muttered aloud when I looked down to see Skittles in my cleavage.

Eddie burst out laughing and we rode the rest of the way to his place as if the night never happened. Everything I did around him was wrong, but he somehow made it seem like everything was going to be all right.

Chapter 7

“Did you get any sleep?” Brooklyn asked as I gathered my laptop, and other items into a bag.

“No, I tried, but the last twenty-four hours have thrown my entire life into a blender and every so often someone presses the button and I am just trying to breathe through it. You wouldn’t believe what happened last night even if I told you.”

“Does it have to do with this?” Brooklyn asked with a huge smile on her face as she pressed play on her voicemail.

‘Hi Brooklyn, my name is Edward Wellington. I am the ass-hat that Kate will undoubtedly tell you about. She told me about you so I am hoping you can relay a message to her. Tell her I hope her day goes better than the night did and that we switched phones. If one of you could call her phone later, set up a meet, then we can exchange them. Thanks. Oh and remind her that last night proved I know how to treat a lady with or without a top on, and she still owes me that apology.’

“Not talking about it,” I stated with a big grin spreading across my face. Brooklyn looked at me inquisitively but said nothing else about it.

“Get dressed, I will make coffee. I transferred everything yesterday to the partners so I could leave early and they will take care of everything today so I can be at the hospital with you. I called for a car to pick us up at 5am.”

“Thanks Brook,” I whispered as I walked into the lilac bathroom to shower. I knew Brooklyn was bogged down at work. They buried her under all the grunt work and silly hearings because she was never one to back down from anything. She never told them no. That made her taking time off a really big deal and I went from smiling at Eddie’s voicemail to wanting to cry with the compassion coming from Brooklyn. I wasn’t going to break. I would be strong for my mom.

I showered and put on a pair of skinny jeans with my knee high black Uggs. I paired it with a hot pink tank top and a black cropped sweater with a hood. Then I walked out to see Brooklyn wearing jeans and a black sweater, making me feel overdressed while holding my purse while on the phone.

“Can we do it on Monday?” She asked and I waited and listened. “Yes, I know where your office is. I look forward to meeting with you.” Then Brooklyn hung up, but said nothing about it.

“What was that about?” I asked and she smiled.

“What happened last night?” She countered my question with a question.

“Are you wearing my favorite Uggs?” I asked and Brooklyn smiled.

“Did you wear my silk shirt to the garage and get it covered in oil?” She asked and I stopped talking because I knew I was busted.

“Want to tell me what the call was about since you already have possession of my shoes?” I asked with a hint or irritation.

“Ready to tell me about last night? You know I might give them back after today if you tell me,” Brooklyn teased, but she was lying. I knew the tone; my shoes were gone. Like a bad breakup gone.

Both of us had questions while the other had answers. Seemed we would be at a stalemate, but curiosity kills the pussy and I had one that was dying to know.

“Eddie, Edward, whats-his-face that was dropping off a car for Mike and I to fix saved me from my drunk and horny past,” I spoke softly not giving much away. Brooklyn tilted her head and I knew she wanted to harp on me about my drunken choices, but thankfully she didn’t.

“You remember Taylor Cross? The district attorney. He called to ask about a meeting.”

Taylor Cross was everything his name said it was. He was a man you didn’t cross. His family came from money and influence. Years ago he was all over every paper as the youngest elected District Attorney in New York County. He never failed at anything if what the newspapers said was true.

I had only been arrested once and going up against him was scary. He was in the running to become the next District Attorney and was making examples out of everyone, but Brooklyn came to my side and helped me even though she was just a law student. I thought the way he looked at her was sexual, but maybe it was about her style of law. My charges were dropped so I never thought about it again until now.

“I remember him. I thought you worked in corporate law, is one of your clients in trouble?”

“No, nothing like that. He just wants me to meet with him. He said he needed fresh eyes to look at something and my name came up when he asked around.”

“I don’t believe him for one second. When you see him please remind him that I had you first.”

“Really?” Brooklyn asked.

“Really! You and I both know a meeting with him means a date, and let’s face it your legs have been welded shut since Mark started dating Mary. So that means it has to be a job offer and more time at work as if the twenty hours a day you do now are not enough. I had you first and I will have you last so that means there is no room for him or his job offer.”

“Your maturity is missing this morning. Did you leave it in the shower?” Brooklyn asked with a smile.

“I left it in my other Uggs,” I replied as I looked down at my shoes on her feet. I took the coffee cup she made for me and downed it in one gulp, like a triple shot. Then I poured another. It was going to be a long day.

“You ready to go?” Brooklyn asked and I shook my head.

“I want to curl my hair and apply make-up. Not sure if it is a good idea, but I want to hide the worry on my face if that makes any sense.”

“I get it. You want your mom to see you as she always has and not as the worried little girl you feel like. I’ve been there, but it’s just a little frosting. Your mom can see right through it.”

“Can we swing by the church? I need to light a candle this morning,” I asked and Brooklyn nodded her head as I sat at the vanity in our bathroom and got ready.

An hour later, I was sitting beside my mom as the nurses scurried to get everything done to take her into surgery. Henry had not even bothered to show which was probably for the best.

With my mouth and his lack of respect there was sure to be a fueled amount of hatred which would not be healthy for my mom.

“Mom,” I whispered as I picked up the hand that didn’t have an IV in it. She looked up at me and tried to smile, but her exhaustion was evident. Her body was so emaciated that she could barely sit up to see me.

“I know you are worried Kate, but I will be fine. We are stronger than most women because we are the soda pop girls. So, no matter what happens today you will always be the cherry to my coke.”

A tear strolled down my face and dropped onto her hand. We both looked at it and then she held out her arms and I curled up beside her as I had done a million times before when she was too tired to walk to the bedroom after her second shift of the day.

“Ma’am you are going to have to get up so we can take her upstairs,” the nurse said as soon as my mom wrapped her arms around me. I reached up and showed the nurse my middle finger. My mom laughed as the nurse scoffed and left the room to go tell on me.
I was engulfed in a world of adult tattle tales.

“Kate, she is just going to come back in here with more people.” My mom stated with a saddened tone.