Oh shit. Where are we supposed to go? There’s no way I can take her to my house. Not when I live with my parents.
Kate’s place isn’t too far. I’m also glad I have my car. Even though the weather isn’t too bad, it’s still pretty cold to be walking in. This winter has been mild compared to most. I’m honestly surprised she walked it to get to the bar.
I’m just happy she offered up her apartment. Trying to find an excuse not to go to mine was going to be a problem. Getting out of my parents’ house has also become a top priority. It’s so embarrassing in times like this. Not that it happens often.
“Are we going to sit in the car for the rest of the night? Or do you want to turn it off and go inside?” Kate puts her hand over mine on the gear shift.
My nerves have shot up now that she’s put me on the spot. In my head, I was smooth and could handle it. That’s not how it seems to be playing out in actuality. “Definitely not sitting in the car.”
Once I lift my hand up, she removes hers and I turn the car off. I push open the door and rush to her side of the car. Luckily, she hasn’t made a move to open the door. This may be one night, or whatever, but it doesn’t mean I can’t act like a gentleman.
I pull open the car door and shiver. It got a lot colder out here than it was earlier, and even if we get upstairs and something goes terribly wrong, she didn’t have to walk home in the cold. Holding out my hand to her, I wait for her to take it before helping out of her car.
“Thanks,” her voice is a whisper on the breeze. I wonder if she’s as nervous as I am. She seemed so confident when we left the bar, and seconds ago. Maybe she was hoping I’d provide a way out. The signals she sends are all over the place. Though, she’s probably getting the same from me. She’s out of me league. I knew that before I even approached her.
As soon as she’s clear from the door, I close it before locking the car. “Lead the way.”
To my surprise, she doesn’t let go of my hand. She pulls me behind her and toward the staircase. The steps are narrow with wide gaps, and I almost lose my footing a couple of times as we go up. There are only four floors to the building, so I won’t have to deal with those long no matter which floor she lives on.
On the third floor, she turns to the right, and I follow along. Five doors down, she stops and pulls her keys out of her pocket. “Here we are.”
“I bet it was a ton of fun moving in here.” It’s the only thing I can think to say to break the silence.
“It’s going to be even more fun when I move out,” she puts the key in the lock and turns. “I’ve acquired a lot more stuff, and I have a feeling my friends are going to hate me. Or they’ll all of a sudden have plans.”
She swings the door open and waits for me to get inside before closing it and turning on the lights. There’s a small Christmas tree in the corner by the kitchen. The coffee table has various wedding magazines scattered across it.
Kate walks further into the apartment and tosses her keys on the table. “Don’t mind the mess. I’m getting ideas for arrangements for work.” She whirls on me and points her fingers, “and don’t say anything about my tree. I haven’t had a chance to put it away.”
My hands go up in the air in surrender. “I wasn’t going to say anything. Leave your tree up year-round. To each their own.” I take a closer look at the magazines on the table. “What do you do for work?”
“I’m a florist.” She moves between the couch and table, gathering the magazines and putting them in a pile. “My friends and I own a shop, and we’ve expanded our business to include weddings. It’s kind of taken over everything.”
“That sounds like a lot,” she moves to straighten up something else, “you don’t have to clean up because I’m here. It’s fine.”
Her shoulders relax. “Thanks. I’m not used to people coming over outside of my friends and family, and I don’t really care what they think.”
“I can go if you want.” I point over my shoulder to the door.
“No, don’t leave.” Her words are rushed. She either needs to feel some sort of connection or let loose. I’ll provide either for her.
Before I have a chance to say anything else her arms are around my neck and her mouth crashes into mine. She’s giving me whiplash, but I don’t argue. Both of us likely had the same intention when she asked me to come home with her.
The confident version of her I saw on the dance floor is back out in full force. Her hands move to the button of my jeans, unfastening them within seconds.
Pulling away from the kiss, I study her expression, ensuring this is what she wants. “Bedroom?”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment before nodding her head toward the short hallway. “That way.” She grabs my arm and pulls me in the direction she indicated. She doesn’t bother closing the door once we’re inside.
The room is dark, and the only light comes from the moon through the slats in the blinds. I move to turn on the lights, but she’s already tugging me toward her bed. Her hands go to the bottom of my shirt, and she tugs until it’s up and over my head.
“I, uh, don’t have a condom.” Stupid of me, of course. I usually always have one in my wallet. But I cleaned it out the other day, and I guess I forgot to put one back in there. It’s not like I planned for this to be outcome for tonight, though. I only know I don’t want to get a phone call in a few weeks to be told I’m going to be a dad. I’m not ready for that.
“No worries,” Kate reaches into a nightstand and pulls out a foil square as she hands it to me and motions to my pants, “those need to come off.”
By the time I have the pants off, and the condom rolled on, she’s already completely undressed. “That was fast.”
She shrugs her shoulders and pulls me toward her. “What can I say? I don’t like to wait.”
