“Why the hell is Hello Kitty on my shower curtain and bath rugs?” Adam demanded.
“I asked; you said and I quote. ‘Anything; I don’t care.’ I like Hello Kitty,” she gave him a sassy smile and turned to walk off.
“I suppose you find yourself amusing?” Adam asked as he followed her into his bedroom.
“I simply got tired of fighting to get an opinion out of you. By the time I back trekked for your bathroom stuff I was ready to fall over,” she informed him as she started putting away his hanging clothes. “You were standing right there when I put them in the buggy,” she added when he continued to stare at her.
“Okay! I bought you a perfectly nice masculine set; they’re in the bag over there,” she pointed to them.
“I knew you wouldn’t do that to me,” he grinned.
“You aggravate the shit out of me sometimes,” she informed him.
“Glad to know I haven’t lost my touch,” he grabbed the bag and disappeared into his bathroom.
Katherine was grinning as she put away his clothes. With that done, she was out of things she could do for the night.
“I’m exhausted,” Katherine collapsed into the floor.
“That makes two of us,” Adam agreed. He was sprawled in the floor with one of his pillows tucked under his head.
“I’m going home.”
“Wait, let me walk you. I don’t want you out on the streets alone at this time of night,” he said without moving. Katherine picked up his extra pillow and threw it at him. Adam blocked it with his arm and smiled.
“Good night, Adam.”
“Good night, Kaitlyn,” he called after her.
Kaitlyn walked the short distance to the elevator and rode three floors down to her own floor. She changed into her nightclothes, fell into bed, and didn’t stir until her alarm clock woke her the next morning.
The next morning, Katherine stopped in the doorway to Adam’s apartment and surveyed the situation. The entertainment system was all but blocking the door and it sounded as if chaos reigned within. She eased past the entertainment system and watched Adam direct the movers from the furniture store.
“There, no, wait a minute. Hmmm.”
“Adam, what is going on?” she asked. Adam looked rumpled, still wearing his clothes from the day before and sporting a heavy five o’clock shadow.
“Good morning, Kaitlyn. I fell asleep last night before I could set a clock or inflate my air mattress and I can’t figure out the best way to get all this in.”
“Couch here; chair here...Adam we need to unroll the rug, then the coffee table here. The entertainment center goes against that wall. The table goes in the dining room, centered. Bed in the bedroom, let’s get busy,” she took over. They were through in less than an hour. As soon as the deliverymen left, Kaitlyn started setting out the small things.
“How can I ever thank you enough?” Adam asked after they were finished.
“We’re not through yet. You still need a TV, a DVD player, stereo, a washer, and a dryer.”
“The electronics sound fun,” he said with a grin.
“Good; go get ready and we’ll grab an early lunch.”
“There’s one more thing I would like to do today.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to get this covered,” he said indicating the tattoo on his arm.
“We’ll do that after your appliances,” she offered.
He disappeared into his room and reappeared several minutes later dressed and looking great. She wished she would quit noticing that.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive. I like my new wheels.”
“Fine by me,” she agreed. After they had eaten, bought his appliances, and had them delivered, they set out to get his tattoo covered.
“What can I do for you?” the man in the tattoo parlor asked. Katherine couldn’t believe how big the man was or the number of tattoos on his body. He was well over six foot, tall and burly. His head was shaved, but a thick brown beard covered his lower face. His eyes were hazel.
“I’ve got a tattoo I want covered,” Adam told the man.
“Know what you want?”
“Not yet. It’s fairly large so it’ll have to be pretty big,” he said as the man pulled out a large book with samples of his work. There were samples on the wall as well.
“Let me see what you’ve got,” the man ordered.
Adam exposed his arm and the man looked it over.
“It’s a good tattoo, why do you want it covered?” the man asked.
“I don’t like it anymore,” Adam confessed.
“Choose one and I’ll cover it,” the man shrugged; it made no difference to him.
“What do you think, Kaitlyn?” Adam asked her.
She looked over his shoulder at the book and frowned. Why anyone would want one of these was beyond her.
Adam finally, after some discussion with the man, he preferred to be called an artist, settled on an eagle, angled in flight so it would fully cover the previous work.
“So, Adam, are you ready to start?”
“Whenever you are. What’s your name?”
“Everyone calls me Little Dog. Is your girlfriend squeamish?”
“We’re just friends. Are you squeamish, Kaitlyn?”
“I’ll be fine,” she answered and watched as Little Dog prepared the needle. He flipped the needle on and a high-pitched hum filled the air. She winced when he put it to Adam’s arm but Adam didn’t bat an eyelash.
“Doesn’t that hurt?” she asked.
“Well I feel it more since I’m sober, but it’s not too bad really,” he answered her. Katherine shuddered. Little Dog dabbed at a freshly done area to clean off the blood and Katherine thought she would be sick.
“You’re bleeding, Adam.”
“It doesn’t hurt,” he smiled at her.
Little Dog’s beard was turned up and she thought she caught a glimpse of white. Apparently they found her discomfort amusing.
“What’s on your knuckles?” Little Dog asked.
“My initials.
“I know who you are. They’ve been looking for you.”
“I’ve been in rehab. I had to get myself cleaned up before I crashed and burned,” Adam admitted.
“Not a bad plan,” the man acknowledged.
Sometime later, Adam looked to Katherine.
“What do you think?” he showed her his arm.
“Much improved,” she nodded.
Adam paid the man and they left.
“Now I won’t be ashamed to expose my arm. I didn’t ask if I should have had the other one covered. I can.”
“If you want to go ahead but it doesn’t bother me,” she shrugged.
“It bothered Mia,” he muttered and shook his head. “She demanded I get it covered; I refused on principal.”
Katherine frowned. She still didn’t like to think about Mia. The woman had lived with him and carried his child and she really shouldn’t care.
“I know we’re supposed to meet Derrick in just a little while, but after our early lunch I’m starved. Let’s get a snack and take it to Centennial Park,” she changed the subject.
“Sounds good to me,” he agreed.
They picked up a couple of small burgers and drinks and sat on top of a picnic table, their feet on the bench, to eat them.
“This is a nice park,” Adam commented.
“Yeah, we have some nice parks around here. We’ll have to see the Parthenon sometime and we should drive over to Percy Warner one afternoon. It’s like a piece of country planted into the middle of civilization.”
“Do you think Derrick and I will get along?” Adam asked her.
“I hope so,” she had her concerns.
“Me too. I’d hate for him to run me out of your life. You’re the best friend I’ve got.”
“He won’t do that,” she promised. She smiled at a group of toddlers playing not far away.
“Cute aren’t they?” Adam asked.
&n
bsp; She smiled and nodded.
“I guess you and Derrick are going to have a house full.” It was easy for him to picture her as a mother, what he didn’t want to picture was Derrick, or any man really, as her children’s father.
“No. Derrick only wants one; I sold him on two,” she was unable to keep a hint of sadness from her voice.
“I thought you wanted at least three or four?”
“That’s impractical. Once we start this business we will have our hands full.”
“Says who?” he frowned and then changed the subject. “Sorry. I guess you guys are house hunting by now.”
“Derrick is.” Katherine winced as she recalled the places Derrick was looking at; they matched the perfect picture Adam had drawn for her life.
“Are you going to renovate an old place?”
“No. Derrick doesn’t like old houses.”
“Was Derrick the one who said more than two kids was impractical?” he asked her with an angry frown. He knew how much Kaitlyn loved children and knew, too, that she would make an excellent mother. He wondered what was wrong with Derrick that he couldn’t see these things for himself.
“He has a point, Adam.”
“What else has he dictated to you?”
“It’s not like that.”
“It’s none of my business anyway,” he shrugged. “If we’re going to change before we meet Derrick we better go,” he told her with a glance at his watch. Katherine sighed and hopped down. She would know soon enough how Adam and Derrick would get along.
***
Katherine glanced in the mirror one last time before leaving her room. She had taken extra care with her appearance after not seeing her fiancé in a few days. She smoothed the sedate black dress she had purchased and critiqued her pulled up hair again. Derrick had been encouraging her to straighten it for a more professional look but Katherine was reluctant. She was hoping she could show him that she could leave it curly and still look sophisticated. Well, all she could do was see if he approved. She left her room, tucked her purse onto the table by the door, and startled when a knock sounded on her door.
“Hi,” she smiled at Adam.
“Hey, you look nice,” he noted.
“Thanks,” she returned.
“Nice space; you’ve used it well and it suits you.”
“Thank you. I found a historic apartment I really loved but it was in an iffy neighborhood so…I did what I could here with my styling.”
“Well it looks great,” he assured her and walked around taking everything in. “Hey, there’s the houses I sent you,” he stood and walked over to them.
“Yeah, those may be the only old homes I ever own.”
“That’s so sad, Kaitlyn,” he said with a glance over his shoulder.
“Nah, old houses mean a lot of upkeep, right?” Katherine shrugged; Adam frowned at her. “We should probably go if we are going to be there on time; Derrick’s a stickler for not being late.”
“So let’s go,” he nodded and let her lead the way.
Katherine was inexplicably nervous on the drive across town. She wasn’t entirely certain what to expect from Derrick and Adam’s meeting. They arrived early, Katherine preferred it that way, and moved inside. Katherine gave her name, informed the hostess they were expecting a third member to their party and then allowed her to seat them.
“Nice place,” Adam noted.
“Derrick hates anything that can pass for fast food. He takes very careful care of himself.”
“So what’s good here?” Adam asked her.
“Everything,” she assured him. “I have yet to have anything off the menu that wasn’t wonderful.”
Katherine fidgeted and glanced at her watch; Derrick should be there anytime. She’d no more than had the thought than she looked up to see the hostess leading him their way. Judging by the frown on his face and the way he was watching Adam he wasn’t pleased.
“Hi,” Katherine stood and accepted his kiss on the cheek.
“Hello, dear, introduce me to your friend won’t you?”
“Derrick this is Adam Ellington, a long-time friend. Adam, Derrick Shaw, my fiancé,” she made introductions.
“Nice to meet you, Derrick,” Adam stood and offered his hand.
“Yes, of course, I’ve been hearing about you,” Derrick took his hand and gave it a brief shake. “Katherine, might I speak with you a moment?”
“Yes, of course,” Katherine agreed.
“Do excuse us,” Derrick requested of Adam; he nodded.
He led Katherine outside onto the sidewalk before he turned to glare at her.
“This is the friend you have been running off to see so often? Katherine, the man is a drunk, more than that: a druggie. How is he in anyway appropriate for the image of…”
“Stop right there!” Katherine cut him; he blinked in surprise. “Adam is one of my oldest and closest friends and yes, he’s had a rough run of it lately and made some less than desirable decisions but he remains my friend. Furthermore, he has gone through hell to turn his life around. I have stood by him to help him accomplish that and will continue to stand by him as he establishes himself in a new life.”
“Or falls back into the old one,” Derrick countered.
“No, he won’t fall back into it,” Katherine’s chin rose in defiance.
“Katherine, I don’t want to see you hurt,” Derrick softened his voice.
“Then don’t insult my friends,” she returned and watched him frown.
“You’re right, I’m sorry, just try to appreciate my concern. I don’t want you hurt and my fiancée has been running off to spend time with another man.”
“With a friend,” she corrected.
“Right. Why don’t we return inside so I can get to know him?”
“I’d like that. Adam is a great guy, Derrick; you’ll see that for yourself.”
“I hope so,” Derrick looked doubtful.
Adam watched them approach and knew by the color in Kaitlyn’s cheeks that they had argued. He’d admit that he had been prepared not to like Derrick just based on what he’d heard about him. Now that he had met him he liked him even less.
“Sorry about that,” Katherine offered him a smile.
“Sure, no problem,” Adam assured her.
“So, Adam, what do you plan to do now that you’ve finished with rehab?” Derrick asked Adam.
“I’m not certain as yet but I am kicking around ideas.”
“Katherine says you two have been friends since high school. How exactly did you meet?”
“Kaitlyn and I had Advanced Math together first period and drama last period. My first day there I was having trouble with my schedule and the campus and Mrs. White had Kaitlyn…”
“Katherine,” Derrick corrected.
“Mrs. White had Kaitlyn give me a tour. We’ve been friends ever since.”
“I don’t think he wanted to make friends but I’ve never let that stop me,” Katherine laughed.
“I would think the two of you had to be quite different,” Derrick noted.
“Completely opposite in a lot ways,” Adam admitted. “Kaitlyn simply refused to let me hide.”
“It’s Katherine,” Derrick corrected him again. “Did your high school friends call you Kaitlyn?” Derrick turned to Katherine.
“Only Adam. Apparently I remind him of his grandmother,” she joked.
“Right,” Derrick eyed Adam carefully. “Did you and Mom get a chance to go shopping?” he turned to Katherine.
“Not really. I’ve been busy when she was free and she’s been busy when I was free.”
“Given her schedule you may have to rearrange a few things. She can really help you. She assured me she can get you in to see her stylist to have your hair straightened and to get a new cut.”
Adam’s head snapped up from his menu at that as he frowned at the man. He looked over to find Kaitlyn frowning at her menu and fidgeting. Before she could respond, the waiter appeared to take their
orders. Adam watched Derrick order salmon for both himself and Kaitlyn and frowned. Kaitlyn would eat salmon but she wasn’t crazy over it. What she loved were fried clams. He had a feeling he knew who was responsible for her recent weight loss. He ordered and asked for an extra side of clams. He was going to see to it Kaitlyn enjoyed her meal one way or another.
“So what made you decide to settle here in Tennessee or are you settling in Tennessee?” Derrick asked after the waiter moved off.
“The connections I made here: Kaitlyn and her family, Amy, Tessa, Brandon and Jack. The only place that ever really felt like home was Tennessee.”
“His mom is still here as well,” Katherine pointed out.
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Derrick noted before turning to Katherine. “Mom is expecting us for dinner Sunday; don’t embarrass me this time.”
“I’ll be there,” Katherine promised.
“Please do.”
Adam felt himself grow more and more concerned over the course of the evening. He didn’t like the way Derrick kept Kaitlyn under his thumb or the subtle ways he manipulated her around to his point of view. He was afraid that Kaitlyn was going to be consumed by the force of her fiancé and be lost forever.
When their food arrived, he watched Kaitlyn pick at hers with no real interest.
“Kaitlyn, you have to try these clams,” he offered her some. He watched her hesitate before she accepted.
“Those are amazing,” she admitted.
“Have some; I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach,” he moved some onto her plate. He could see the battle she waged with herself before she began eating them. He was pleased when she ate them all.
“I will have to make up for that somewhere,” she sighed.
“Why? You could stand to gain a few pounds,” Adam frowned at her; she shook her head.
“Everyone woman wants to look amazing on their wedding day and wedding night,” Derrick inserted.
“She would without trying,” Adam shrugged.
“So she will look all the more lovely for trying.”
Adam found that he wanted to deck the man.
“Katherine, could I get a ride home please? I caught a cab straight here from the airport; my luggage is in the cloak room.”
Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series) Page 22