“They’re enormous,” she laughed. “I have to rethink how I’m going to put all the food around it.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“Hey, where are you? It’s quiet. Shouldn’t you be on the bus to the arena?”
Fuck, she was onto me. “No, we got here a little early and I found a quiet spot. I just wanted to talk to you before it was late and you were all champagne buzzed.”
“I appreciate it,” she said quietly. “I know you like to get in the zone before games. You calling means a lot.”
“Anything for you,ma puce,” I said. “I’ll call you after the game, but don't feel like you have to pick up if you still have lots of guests. I know you’ll do great hosting tonight.”
She gave an exaggerated groan. “Yeah, you know I get weirdabout hosting. I’ll let you get to it, though. Give ‘em hell, Stelle. I love you.”
“I love you more, Birdy.”
* * *
My hands shook as I walked up to Kitty’s house. I rang the doorbell before trying the handle. Her porch was so perfectly her: a simple wreath and little yellow flowers in concrete planters. The mid-century modern house was modest, but it was something I knew Kitty had wanted for years. She loved houses that looked like her Meemaw’s house. I knew she was especially excited about the pool and hot tub in the backyard. She was obsessed with 1950s California houses. I was so happy she’d gotten everything she wanted. And all on her own. Without me. I knew that was important to her. I could buy her whatever her heart desired, but she wanted to make her own way.
“Just come in!” yelled a voice from inside. But I wanted Kitty to answer the door. I rang again and again, being a pest with the button.
“Jesus, God, what?” Kitty demanded when she wrenched the door open. Her face went from annoyed to shocked as she realized it was me. She looked at the champagne and flowers in my hands. She sucked in a breath, tears making the sound choppy. Her eyes rounded. “You’re here.”
I grinned. “I’m here.”
“Put that shit down so I can maim you,” she commanded as she threw her arms around my neck. Of course, she hadn’t given me a chance to put that shit down, so I wrapped her up while still holding the flowers and booze. She covered my neck in kisses before putting both hands on my face, like she didn’t believe I was real. “How?”
“Coach let me be a healthy scratch tonight,” I said, smiling down at her. “I couldn’t miss this, Kitty.”
The kiss Kitty launched was aggressive and tenacious. I held her tight, elated to have her back in my arms. We hadn’t seen each other since New York, and I’d made a lot of changes to make sure I could keep her in my arms more often than not. But I’d tell her that later.
“Come meet everybody,” she whispered against my mouth, then dragged me through the door.
“Listen up!” Kitty shouted into the room. Her guests laughed and looked up at us. “This is Guy. He’s real. He’s actually here.”
A cheer went up from the room. “Did you tell them I’m not real?”
“No. They just don’t believe that I’m involved with some hockey star,” she laughed.
Kitty paraded me around the room, introducing me to her boss, the producer of the show she worked on, and some of her L.A. friends I’d never met. It felt so good to be by her side again, the man on her arm. The man with an arm around her waist. The man glued to her, pawing at her, staring at her because I needed her.
I helped her pour and hand out champagne to all the guests so she could make a toast.
“Come stand with me, Guy,” she said after she brought the room to attention. She wound her arm around my back. “Thank you, everyone, for coming over to help me break in my new house. Don’t be strangers. Most of y’all know I’m from West Virginia, so I come from a place where I expect you to just show up and insert yourself in my business. If you’re here tonight, you are always welcome in my home. I’m new to L.A. and I need all the love I can get. Especially with this guy far away,” she said, nudging my side. “It means so much to me to already have such an awesome work family, and friends that I stole from New York. Thanks for being my people. Cheers!”
The room erupted in heartfelt cheers, glasses clinking. I leaned down to Kitty.
“Mind if I say something?”
“Go ahead. Don’t embarrass me, though, Guy Stelle,” she warned. I clinked her glass to mine to quiet the room again.
“Kitty said I could give a toast, too, as long as I don’t embarrass her,” I said, beaming at her. “I’ve known Kitty for a long time. A decade or so now, right,ma puce?”
Kitty nodded, blushing.
“I’m sure if you know her, you know how hard she works. She’s wanted this for as long as I’ve known her, and it’s been such a joy to watch her grow her talents and succeed. I just wanted to toast Kitty, because I’m so proud of her and who she’s become. In a world full of Pepsi and Coke, she’s my Dr. Pepper. I love you, Birdy. Cheers.”
Glasses were raised again with a few swoons as I kissed Kitty, the taste of champagne on her lips.
