5. Katie
5
KATIE
Katie choked on a piece of fried shrimp, trying to process what Stephen had just said.
He couldn’t possibly have asked her to spend the day with Sydney. With the woman who was pretending she didn’t even know Katie. The woman with those silky blonde waves and wide coral-tinted lips. Lips Katie could practically feel on her own, even from across the table. Her brain couldn’t distinguish between seeing them now and feeling them against her at that party.
No, that wasn’t her brain feeling that.
“I’m sure Katie has better things to do than be my babysitter for the day.” Sydney’s bright green eyes flickered with a similar panic. “Aside from the fact that I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Nope,” Stephen said. “She has off tomorrow. Plus, she already told me her cousin’s in the recording studio, and her parents are hiding out in some cabin in Mississippi for the week. So she doesn’t have any plans she’s told me about, and if she has any errands to run, you can go with her. It’s a win-win!”
Katie’s heart pounded against her ribcage. “Your sister is as lovely as you are, Stephen, but how is this a win for me, exactly?”
Maybe she shouldn’t have said lovely.
When she saw that sparkle in Sydney’s eyes, she no longer regretted the wording at all. All she could think about was making her sparkle like that more.
“You love showing off this city,” Stephen said, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. “You’re a natural tour guide.”
He had her there. She did like to show off the city. And even if Sydney was born there, Katie was sure a lot had changed since Sydney had last visited New Orleans.
She was running out of excuses.
She could tell him Benjamin was sick.
No, he would suggest Sydney go with her to the vet or help take care of it at her place. Sydney seemed like she’d be great with animals. Kind. Caring. Gentle.
Katie had to tread lightly, or this could turn out even worse. The last thing she needed was Sydney hanging out at her apartment.
It had taken all of Katie’s willpower not to invite Sydney home after that Christmas party. Their conversation that night had flowed smoothly, but they hadn’t really talked about the details of their lives. She did know the woman wouldn’t be sticking around for long. She had a life somewhere else. Since there was no potential future for them, Katie had left her behind at that party.
She didn’t think she could have that much willpower twice.
If this day together was inevitable, as it seemed it might be, then she needed to keep Sydney out of her apartment and in public areas where she wouldn’t be tempted to kiss her again.
Well, where she probably wouldn’t act on that temptation.
“I don’t know, Stephen.”
Sydney seemed equally uncomfortable. About being with Katie again or about imposing on Katie was the question.
Not that the answer mattered.
“I do know,” Stephen said. “It’s settled. I’ll give you Katie’s address, and you can pick her up in the morning.” He crumpled his paper sandwich wrapper with an exaggerated flourish. “You do not want to ride in Katie’s car. No offense.”
“Hey!” Katie wadded her own wrapper and tossed it at him. “Yes, offense. Very much offense.”
“Oh, please. I’ve been in your car. Trust me. You want to use Syd’s rental.”
She was sure Syd’s accountant salary paid to rent a much nicer ride than Katie’s worn-in Camry, but she didn’t have to admit that.
“If you’re going to take time out of your day, the least I can do is use my vehicle and gas.”
Katie wasn’t sure if she was reading her wrong—and that was quite possible since she barely knew this woman—but it seemed like Sydney’s expression had softened. Maybe she was even hopeful.
Shit.
There were a million excuses Katie could probably come up with to get out of this. She just needed a single good one.
Unfortunately, her brain wasn’t cooperating.
Or maybe it didn’t want to think of an excuse.
Not that any of this was a good idea, but her curiosity was winning out. She wanted Sydney to tell her to her face why they were having to put on this charade of not knowing each other. Even if Katie had no intention of taking their interactions any further.
Was it as simple as Stephen not knowing she liked women? People were allowed to come out on their own timelines and in whatever way they felt comfortable, but Katie knew Stephen pretty well. Better than she knew anyone else aside from her cousin Rachel. She couldn’t imagine why Sydney would think telling him would turn out badly.
“Okay,” Katie said. “Meet me at nine? Or is that too early?”
The right corner of Sydney’s mouth turned upward in the most intriguing half-smile.
Katie was definitely in trouble.
“That’s perfect.” Then, with a tiny nod, Sydney said, “Looking forward to it.”
* * *
RACHEL!!!
Katie paced back and forth over the worn-in carpet of her living room, waiting desperately for those three dots to transform into words, while Benjamin eyed her curiously from his short cat tree. A few passes across the room later, she got a reply.
OMG what? Are you ok?
No! Definitely not ok! I have to spend the whole day with Sydney tomorrow!!!!!!!!
There was a long break. Not even three dots.
Maybe she caught Rachel in the middle of a rehearsal. Or some sort of meeting.
Whatever it was, she needed Rachel to get back to her phone. Katie needed advice. Or, at the very least, an idea for how to get out of this.
She looked to Benjamin for answers, a distraction, something. He didn’t even lift his head, just sat with it on his paws staring at her from the top perch. He loved to stumble around her feet while she was in the kitchen, knowing his dinner would appear along with hers. But the rest of the time, he kept to himself unless there was an opportunity for couch snuggles while Katie watched TV.
The phone dinged in her hand, and Katie stopped pacing to read Rachel’s text, eager for her sympathy or some brilliant exit strategy.
I thought this was a RACHEL! Something’s on fire! Kind of text. Not a pathetic I’ll be spending tomorrow with a gorgeous woman piece of lunacy.
Something IS on fire!
Your pants? Rachel texted, followed by a crying-laughing emoji.
Katie should have known better than to go to Rachel with this. Rachel had been clear that she thought Katie should try for something more with Sydney. No matter Katie’s objections.
But her other go-to for this kind of thing was Stephen. Not exactly an option right now.
She stabbed at her phone with her thumbs and typed, Never mind.
A few moments later, Katie’s phone rang.
“Oh, come on. I had to. The joke was right there,” Rachel said. “Go on. Freak out unnecessarily. I’m listening.”
“Not unnecessarily. Very necessarily!”
“Because… why? You like her. Don’t try to lie. You do. What’s the big deal?”
That was the big deal, wasn’t it? She kind of did like this woman. Despite Katie’s snap judgment about the whole accountant thing, Sydney was easy to talk to and even easier on the eyes. Katie couldn’t deny that.
“This can’t go anywhere.”
“Then just have fun. Can you have fun for a day?”
Of course, she could have fun for a day. And if she hadn’t already made out with this woman, that would probably be easy. But everything happened backwards! All the boxes got checked in the wrong order, and now she was confused. Well, parts of her were.
“I guess.”
“I’ll call you later tonight and give you a proper pep talk. Don’t cancel before then!”
Katie promised she wouldn’t, and immediately felt another wave of panic rush through her body as she tossed her phone onto the couch.
Rachel was right. This probably wouldn’t be so terrible. In fact, they’d probably have a good time.
But that was the problem.
More time with Sydney meant more time gazing at those smooth lips shining with that pale coral gloss. Getting lost in those sea-green eyes. Fighting the urge to run her fingers through those soft waves that smelled like she just stepped off a Sand Diego beach.
Oh no. She was toast.
What the hell had she agreed to?
Katie knew exactly what she’d agreed to.
She plopped onto her faded blue second-hand couch and sighed at the ceiling. She knew she shouldn’t be looking forward to spending the day with Sydney tomorrow. Now that it was inevitable, however, she couldn’t help wanting the clock to spin faster.
But there was dread mixed into that anticipation. Not dread over spending time with Sydney. Dread that she would inevitably want to spend even more time with her.
Rachel was right. She’d been quick to dismiss their potential after that party. But now she had good reason to dismiss their future. Anything more than a fun day together would be a waste of her time. There was no future for them, not with the physical distance between their lives.
Although Stephen was right, too. She didn’t have better plans. And if she spent the day on her own, she wouldn’t leave the house. That meant she’d still be missing out on meeting someone else. The right someone else.
So this wouldn’t really be a waste of time as long as it didn’t go any further.
And it wouldn’t.
It couldn’t.
Sydney would be gone in less than a week. That’s what Stephen had said, and what Sydney had said at the party. A long-distance relationship wasn’t an option, so this would just be a fun day of showing someone Katie’s favorite spots. And maybe finding out some of Sydney’s old favorites as well.
Crap. They would be sharing interests and history, wouldn’t they?
It was just one day, she reminded herself. One day together, then they’d go their separate ways. How much harm could come from one wasted day with a beautiful woman?