“Okay! We’re in a room full of writers and creatives, but nobody steal his line! It’s mine,” Kitty announced, fanning her face. “Now everybody, eat, drink, dance, and have a good time!”
Her friends seemed pretty cool, overall. I don’t know what I expected for L.A. I guess something more superficial, but everyone was genuine and kind. Just like Kitty, no one treated me like a meathead. Well, I guess one guy asked me if all my teeth were real, but that’s a decently valid question for someone who plays professional hockey. Some even complimented how funny I was in our stand-up appearance from New York. One guy said he’d ask if I could be a guest on SNL.
“Only if Kitty helps me,” I said. “I couldn’t be funny without her.”
While I loved meeting all her people, I was eager to get Kitty alone. It was getting late and I needed to be up early the next day. When it got close to midnight, I had to speak up.
I took her hand between conversations and leaned down to her ear. “Hey, Birdy, I think I’m going to head out.”
“Head out? You’re not staying with me?” she asked, her face thoroughly confused.
“Can we talk outside?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said, looking scared. I took her hand and led her to her backyard. She had the area around the pool lit with candles and hanging lanterns. A few guests stood outside, smoking and chatting. They didn’t pay us any mind as we sat on a lounge chair by the pool. “Did you come here to break off whatever we’ve got going on?”
“Never,” I said. “I actually just wanted to check in with you. We haven’t really talked about it since New York. If I can figure out a way to make it all work with us, is that what you want?”
Her face turned pensive. “Yes.”
“I need you to be absolutely sure, Kitty. No holding back. No reservations. You fully want this?”
Her mouth arranged into a little pout. “I’ve fully wanted this since we were kids, Guy. I never would have left if we’d been able to stay together.”
My heart fluttered looking over at her. “Good.”
“Do you have some kind of plan you’re not telling me about?”
“Working on one. I don’t want to jinx it and make it end up not working out,” I said. “You’re coming to the game tomorrow, right? And sitting with Mel? She asks about you constantly. Misses you.”
“I wouldn’t dare miss it, baby,” she said, holding my chin for a kiss. I tugged her closer, deepening it. “You’re sure you don’t want to stay over?”
I booped her nose. “I don’t want you to kick your guests out and I need good sleep. We’ve got an early practice since the game’s at five. You’ll still go to dinner with me after?”
“Of course,” she grinned. “I’ll take you for as many hours as I can get you. And I appreciate you sneaking out tonight to surprise me. It means a lot.”
“This house is perfect, Birdy. Everything you dreamed of.”
She glowed with pride and gave me a final kiss before sending me on.
Chapter 40
Kitty
“Hey, babe,” I rasped out to Mel. I had on sunglasses and a baseball hat. It was 11 a.m., but my party’s festivities had lasted well into the morning hours. There may or may not have been One Direction karaoke. It was for the best that Guy didn’t stay over. He’d have played like shit.
I felt like shit. But Mel and I had booked brunch as soon as she told me she was coming down for this road trip. She said she needed a little mommy getaway time before she and Branson started trying for number two. She told me to pack my clothes and makeup for the game.
“Looks like the housewarming was a success,” she teased. “Sorry I had to miss it.”
“You were doing the good WAG thing, seeing Branson in Anaheim. You will be coming to my next house party, though, missy. I’ll make sure of it,” I said. “If I drink a mimosa, will it reactivate all the champers I drank last night?”
Mel cackled. “I hope so. I already ordered you one.”
“And to think, I didn’t think we’d get along before I met you. I sincerely apologize for that,” I said, scanning the menu for anitem that didn’t make me want to barf. “I thought I was above WAG life.”
“Apology accepted. We all thought we were above it. If anything, I’ve gotten cooler since I had a kid. I concentrate all my fun into my non-kid time,” she said, checking her nails.
I went to pick up my phone out of impulse before I stowed it away in my purse, but Mel snatched it out of my hand.
