20. Alisha “Kitty” Quin
ALISHA “KITTY” QUIN
My mother’s grave sat on a small hill between a former hockey player and a mother of three.
The space had a slight view of a forest that might one day become condos but for now, it was a sweet little spot that had shade in the summer and is protected from most of the winter by a large weeping willow.
I clung tightly to the bouquet of lilies—my mother’s favourites.
We were too poor to buy them when she was alive.
My knees trembled but with one of Exodus’ arms around my hips. I was able to remain standing, my heels sinking into the soft earth with each step.
“Hi Mom.” I whispered. “It’s been a bit since I visited you. I didn’t mean to. Hopefully you weren’t too lonely without me.”
I removed what was left of the old flowers—what hadn’t been blown away by the wind in the time I hadn’t been there. Exodus took them from my fingers and walked over to a nearby trash can.
I knelt at the grave.
“I’m sorry. Dad was being dad again.” I managed. “But you see that man? He protected me. Made sure dad couldn’t touch me. He’s Sam’s brother—Exodus. I know, right? Who would have thought? I wanted you to meet him—do you like him, mom?”
A soft breeze blew through the leaves and I smiled.
“You’re right.” I whispered. “He’s very cute and he takes very good care of me.”
Exodus came back to my side. He hunched down and rested a palm to my lower back.
“I think mom likes you.” I told him.
“Well, yeah. I mean, what’s not to like?”
I laughed.
“You are so much like Yang.” I accused.
He crinkled his nose at me.
“He’s going to take care of me now, mom.” I looked at her stone again. “You don’t have to worry. And he can cook.”
Exodus laughed.
After a soft prayer, I promised to not stay away so long.
Exodus helped me up and wrapped an arm around me as we made her way back to the truck. He helped me in and while he wandered around, I removed my heels and wiggled my toes.
It had been about a month and a half since that day at the hospital and since then I’d gone back to teaching, found myself an apartment and the temperature had fallen—drastically.
It wasn’t quite winter yet, but it was so cold when the sun went down or just in the shade.
Exodus was training more and more and within that time, the fandom realized he was seeing someone. They weren’t rude or mean—they just had questions and curiosities.
But while they were curious, I wanted to remain out of the public eye and not be a distraction to what Exodus was trying to do.
After visiting my mother, I changed my shoes in the truck and after a few stolen kisses, I wandered into the restaurant where I’d be meeting with Sam and Tha’lab for a late lunch.
Exodus had a training session he didn’t want to leave me for.
I bribed him with booty.
When I walked in and saw Bambam, I squealed and ran to her with open arms.
“Bambam!” I cuddled her tightly before stepping back.
“How? I thought you were going to be busy today?” I asked.
She beamed.
“I was.” Bambam replied as I hugged everyone else before sitting. “But my client is stuck in Nepal—something about a medical emergency in his family. So, here I am.”
I giggled.
“This is nice.” I admitted. “It’s so good to see all of you. Even you.”
I poked Bambam in the side making her giggle.
And so, the day slowly slipped away behind toasts with mimosas, daintily made crepes and laughter. I spent the night at my place and after a very sexy conversation with Exodus, I passed out still on the phone with him.
When I woke the next morning, my phone was dead and my bladder was screaming at me.
After using the bathroom, I showered, brushed my teeth and then stopped in my bedroom to plug my phone to charge. When I exited my bedroom, a large pink box on the dining table caught my attention.
Quirking a brow, I grabbed a rolling pin as a weapon and searched every room, nook and cranny.
I was alone.
Nervous, I opened the box to a note on top.
Tonight, at seven, a car will pick you up and bring you to me. You owe me a date, Ms. Quinn. And I’m collecting.
X
I laughed out loud.
Giddy, I twirled around then went back to find that the box held a red dress that looked too small for me. A pair of white stilettos, a velvet box that held a silver necklace with a black pearl pendant and a black clutch.
Making myself some coffee, I waited for my phone to have some juice then texted him.
—Did you break into my apartment?—
—I’m your boyfriend, Kitty. I have a key?—
—You could have at least woken me up for a kiss?—
—I tell you what. Why don’t you come tonight, and I’ll allow you to kiss me all you want?—
—All I want?—
—All you want, Kitty?—
I giggled, sent him a peach and an eggplant emoji then set my phone back to finish charging.
That entire day I floated on air.
Though I didn’t tell him I would, I wandered out to get waxed within an inch of my life, my nails done in a beautiful grey and white design and my toes in simple black polish. When I returned home, I was running behind time, but I showered and lathered my body in unscented lotion.
This was our first date and showing up with ashy anything was out of the question.
When I was pulling the dress on, the label caught my attention making me choke on air.
Stella McCartney.
“Sweet baby Jesus!”
Still, I dressed.
It fit me perfectly.
The shoes were Gucci and I made a mental note to find out how much money he spent on everything.
When I was finally ready, I had five minutes to get downstairs.
Gathering my clutch, ensuring my credit card was in it with some cash, I spritz on some perfume and hurried as quickly as the stilettos would allow, feeling like the prettiest woman on the planet.
The car Exodus sent was a luxurious, dark red Rolls Royce with the doors that opened from the center of the car. The chauffer wore a dark suit with white gloves, and I suddenly felt as if I was in one of those movies.
Pretty Woman after that I have money scene.
The driver greeted me professionally after opening the door for me to climb in, he closed it.
Though I was curious, I didn’t ask where we were going. I clutched my phone tightly in one hand and forced myself to relax in the amazing leather seat.
Exodus had gone through all this to surprise me.
I wouldn’t ruin it by being uptight.
When the driver finally pulled over and a doorman hurried to open the car’s door and extended a hand to help me out, my heart began racing faster than it ever had.
“Thank you.” I managed, looking around.
We were parked in front of Cloud, a two-time winning Michelin Star restaurant that housed only the rich and famous with an elevator ride to the skies and views of the entire city.
Exodus exited the doors then in an all black suit, no tie and a smile that could light up the city.
“Xiǎo māo.” He exhaled.
He took my hand and after a kiss to the back of it, he twirled me around then nodded like a man satisfied with everything.
“You look—wow.” He kissed my cheek. “God, you smell good.”
“Are you happy I’m all yours?”
He held my him pulling me into his chest to kiss my neck.
“So glad.” He replied. “But this is our first date. I have to be on my best behaviour.”
I blushed.
“And later?”
“I aim to misbehave.” He whispered close to my ear.
I gasped softly.
“Maybe you’ll get fucked.” He whispered in my ear. “Or maybe we’ll just cuddle. We’ll play it by ear.”
His breath hot on my flesh.
His words a volcano.
The elevator ride to the restaurant wasn’t nearly long enough. He’d spent the time kissing my shoulder, my neck, the back of my hands.
He couldn’t keep his hands off me and I enjoyed every second of his attention.
But soon, the lift pinged and the doors were sliding open.
He took my hand and led me inside, not releasing me when people turned to look. At our table, it seemed to be in a private area, a lovely fireplace burned low not too far from us and the view of the city was fantastic.
He pulled out my chair and after I sat and set my clutch behind me, he sat. When our waitress approached and introduced herself, I ordered a glass of wine, and he settled for a bourbon.
“You know, I would have settled for a trip to the food trucks.” I told him, watching the fire in his eyes. “This is a lot.”
“I wanted it to be something you remembered.” Exodus confided. “Besides, I don’t think your mom would approve of our first date being at a food truck.”
“You’d be surprised.”’
Dinner was delicious.
Everything I put in my mouth was perfection.
But Exodus was the most wonderful of all.
We talked about his life, my life, his wants and hopes.
Though I didn’t want to tell him my dreams, since I’d given up on them, I did.
Get married.
Be a mom.
Become the principal of a school or open my own little tutoring business.
My dreams were nothing grand.
After dessert, he escorted me down to the front and handed the valet a ticket. He pulled out a brand-new Mercedes, one I hadn’t seen before.
“It’s Dr. Tan’s.” Exodus opened my door for me. “You haven’t seen his fleet.”
“Fleet?”
Exodus smirked and kissed my shoulder as I tried getting in.
“Do you have a fleet as well?” I wanted to know.
“Not a chance. I like hitting people in the octagon. He likes cars. Sam prefers books and Mama Tan is the feeder.”
“Each have their own thing.”
He nodded.
He spent the night at my place, insisting he just hold me.
“I want to do this right.” Exodus told me as he shifted on my small bed to get comfortable. “Tonight was all for you. I know your day was long.”
Sighing, I cuddled into him and before I knew what was happening, I was asleep.
I slept through the entire night waking up at the ass-crack of dawn to pee.
When I went back to bed, he was lying on his stomach, my blue sheets falling down to his waist, exposing a strong back and shoulders I knew were strong enough to carry me.
That thought was a turn on,
He moaned.
“Why are you out of bed?” He wanted to know.
“I have some papers to grade.” I sat on the side of the bed to lean in and kissed him. “I wish I could stay in bed all day with you. And don’t you have a photoshoot?”
“Later.”