Kathryn
As I am looking at myself in the mirror. The thought crosses my mind, tonight will go one of two ways either things will change forever or we will stay a secret. On one hand I don't want Alex to know for the reason that I do still love him but it is so hard to see a future with him because of our past. But on the other hand there's Nathan he's been the light in the darkness. He brings the best out in me and I am falling in love with him. The future with him seems so clear. I feel like I am betraying Alex by keeping this from him and I'm breaking his heart and mine if I tell him. Fate is a funny thing. What will tonight cost me?
Grace walks into the room as I'm pulling on a high waisted jean shorts with a white cotton tank. The look on her face is that of worry she doesn't realize how hard this is for me. She wasn't around when I was in love with Alex. She just knows now the past 5 years without him. I turn to her and ask "Hair up or down?" Running my hands through my smoothly curled hair. "Or maybe a half high pony?" She scrunches up her face she isn't into all the hair and makeup as me but she knows what looks good. "Leave it all down! It looks good when it's wild." I give her a soft smile in the mirror silently agreeing. Abby walks in her vibrant red curls bouncing about as she says "Oh Kat! You look amazing as always! Also I heard that Sarah isn't coming??? What's going on with y'all." I look over my shoulder at Grace and she throws her hands up "I am not going to tell her Kat! Go right ahead." Abby looks back at me as I go into the long spill of what happened between us all. Abby pauses and says "Bless your heart!! Is this Nathan fine or what?" I roll my eyes and laugh pulling her into a big hug! She is the fairest of us all! "Abs he is so fine! You will see." The look on her face as she pulls away "Sweet lord is he coming tonight??" Grace and I nod at the same time. "Let's eat this is to much to process." We grab our things and head out to the car. We drive up to the Mexican restaurant right down from the house I feel like I need a few Raspberry Margaritas to start my night!
As we sit and order our drinks I hear a familiar voice coming into the door it's Alex with Nathan close behind. Alex spots me like instinct. He smiles and heads rough for us "Yall got enough room for the two of us and Talon he's coming?" "Absolutely have a seat." I reply as I make eye contact briefly with Nathan. Surprised Alex takes the seat by Abby and Nathan sits by me. He's so close I can smell his cologne. "So no Sarah tonight?" Alex says I give him a smile and say "No not tonight I'm sure she had other things to do." Looking to Grace as she rolls her eyes. They have never cared for each other.
We all make idle chit chat as we wait for our food. Talon arrived just before. Alex and Talon get up and go to the bar, as they do Nathan caresses my leg under the table causing me to stiffen and look at him. He leans closers and says "You look as beautiful as ever." His fingers catching a stray strand of my hair as he tucks it back behind my ear and continues " I love your hair like this." I can't look away from him. His eyes burning into me as he says "I better go check on them they might get lost up there." He gets up and I turn to the girls Abbys mouth is wide open as she says "Sweet lord! Is the sexy turned all the way up in here or is it just me?" Grace chimes in "It's not just you Abs he's always like that with her. And she thinks it nothing." I shoot her a cautious look "It is nothing y'all. I don't know what to make of it. But I do love him." Abby laughs "You and me both. And we just met." The guys come back to the table joining us. As our food arrives so does another unwanted visitor Sarah.... Grace doesn't even attempt to speak to her somethings going on that I don't know about but Grace certainly does I can tell by the way she is responding to Sarah's presence. "Well it seems someone decided to leave me out of this little group date." Sarah says looking directly at Nathan. Talon speaks up " Its not a date we were coming to eat and they girls happened to be here already." Sarah waves him off as if she is done hearing anything he has to say. She wasn't speaking to him anyways and Nathan knows it. He looks directly at her and says "Don't you have somewhere to be. Isn't Jax waiting on you?" Talon freezes the one rule is that none of his friends are to cross the line with his sister. She gives Nathan a wicked stare and says "Actually we are meeting here. Talon it's none of your business so direct your states elsewhere." She walks away quickly from the table but this isn't over with by a long shot. "Bitch" Talon whispers under his breath. Everyone acts as if the didn't hear him except Grace she almost says something but stops herself.
As we finish eating and pay our bill. The girls and I go to leave and Sarah calls out "Kathryn I'll drop by the party later! See y'all then." Forgetting completely that she already knows about the party as it happens every year! We leave ahead of the boys who move to the bar. Once we are in the car and away from prying ears I turn to Sarah. "Okay spill! What do you know?" She looks over at me not wanting to tell me what she knows meaning one of two things it will hurt me or it's not the full story. She looks back at Abby and says "Okay so last weekend I over heard the end of a confrontation with Nathan and Sarah. She was telling him that she was tired of you getting what you want. And that she was going to tell Alex herself about y'all. Some other stuff was said but she doesn't have your best interest at heart. She pisses me off. I almost confronted her that night but Alex wasn't far from me and I didn't know if he heard any of it but I didn't want to make a bigger scene." My heart drops why would my best friend want to hurt me in that way. She doesn't know how I feel about Nathan but why try to hurt Alex in the process! I say "She said she wanted Jaxson when I told her about Nathan... Why not come to me if she had a problem with it?" Grace shakes her head and says "Because she's jealous she would rather them chase after her instead of you. But they don't because of her brother. She will always be one of the guys." This is not what I need right now. Pushing it from my mind I start the car and head toward the house. As we turn into the drive way I say "Let's focus on tonight and having a great time." They both agree.
Nathan
A few hours later people start to arrive. It's after ten pm when Alex and I pull around the back of the house. Chris and Brandon already have the bonfire blazing. Looking around at all the people in attendance. This party could rival Millhouse. I scans looking for Kat, I sees her sitting on the back of a truck with Meredith, Grace and Abby. Kathryn is smiling and laughing she is always a sight to behold but tonight she is the only woman in my sight. I've had my share of women over the years but she has been my ultimate accomplishment. Even if we don't end up together she was it for me. Alex keeps checking his phone he's been glued to it since we got into the truck after dinner. I have seen Jo's name pop up a few times. Maybe he's working his magic and inviting her here. I am studying Kat she's deep in a conversation with the girls. She looks so vibrant. Finally Kathryn's eyes meet mine across the flames of the bonfire. She sparks a heat in me I can't deny.
I always feel a need to be near her and touch her. My mind spinning with all I'd love to be doing to her. Alex's voice brings me back to reality "Hail, do you think that me and Jo are compatible? Am I to old for her? Hell could you see us together? I'm having a hard time seeing it." I pull my mind away from Kathryn to answer his question. "I think that compatibility lies within the two people Alex! If you want the girl quit making excuses. If you are worried about Kathryn don't she will be fine. Worry about yourself. " He cuts his eyes to looks over at me that wasn't how I'd usually answer with spouting off my normal asshole bullshit. "You know what Hail. You are right! Let's worry about later. But tonight let's have some fun!" Grabbing beers from out cooler we make our rounds speaking and chatting up different sets of people at the party. Alex has found himself in Abby web. She's so friendly that it's hard to get away. I spot Kathryn with Charlotte and Julianne this is my safe space to talk to her for a few uninterrupted minutes as the walk inside the back door. I follow them in. When I get into the kitchen Kat is sitting on the counter and her sitters sitting in the bar stools. As soon as they see me Charlottes eyes grow wide and Julianne greets me sarcastically"Hail what a joy to see you!" "You as well Juls. Can I talk to you Kathryn?" They are all ears I follow up with "Alone obviously you two!" They roll their eyes and Juls says "We will be on the back porch."
Kat turns back to me still sitting on the counter it's been killing me not to touch her. Running my fingers up her exposed legs. I love how she looks tonight her retro style and sun kissed skin. Her curls are wild and eyes bright. She looks so alive like the cover of a magazine. Looking up at me under her dark lashes. How lucky I am to call her mine. She grabs my shirt pulling me in for a kiss. Our lips collide she's doesn't pull away telling me she is in no hurry. She parts her lips against mine and runs her tongue along my bottom lip. Then sucking it into her mouth. She backs up slowly my voice is a whisper as her name leaves my lips "Kathryn." I open my eye to her sweet smile and she hops up off the counter onto the floor and heads out the backdoor to her sisters.
I walk out behind her and she finally says "Did you bring the guitar?" I nod and say "Of course I did! I'll go get it come sit with me." She follows me down the back steps I can feel their eyes on us. Everyone's eyes as she sits down on the back of the truck and I pull out the guitar. Alex makes his way over to me pulling out his as well. "What are we playing tonight?" He says to Nathan. Nathan doesn't even respond he starts strumming the cords to "Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran" Alex follows suit playing along with him. As the song comes to an end Alex looks at me and says any request. Dylan's standing over by the fire speaks up and says "Mr. Jones by Counting Crows. That's a crowd favorite. Wouldn't you say Juls." She come around the truck snuggling up to him as I start playing the opening cords and Alex sings along. I forgot how good of a team we are since Kathryn. Maybe telling him really isn't in the cards tonight. As soon as that thought crosses my mind I look over at her sitting between us and know she's it. She has to be. She chimes in with us "Believe in me. Help me believe in anything. 'Cause I wanna be someone who believes." Clearly her favorite line of the song as continues to sing.
We have been playing for the past two hours and the crowds thinning out. All that remains outside are Kathryn, Alex, Grace, and myself. I strum down the guitar as Alex takes a break from playing to grab a beer she pulls out her phone and says "Take a picture with me!" We both smile as she snaps it on her phone. "Send that one to me." I tell her. She smiles and does as I say. Grace comes over "I'm gonna head in guys I'm exhausted." Alex come back and says "I'll be in behind you" he finishes off his beer and heads into the house. Leaving just me and Kat. ALONE.