Page 18 of Deprivation

“Oh, my gosh, Kat. You fed perfect Rachel’s children PB and Js and s’mores? No wonder you got lectured.”

The waiter brings our drinks and takes our food order, and the rest of the evening continues in hilarity. I’m so blessed to have the Harris family in my life.

* * *

Nick

After securing a room for the evening at a hotel right around the corner, I enter my favorite watering hole and take a seat at the bar. I try to make idle chatter with the bartender. She’s attractive and keeps my thoughts toward my goal. I’m finally getting laid tonight.

This pub is quite different than The Sports Page was last evening. There was nothing but rowdy guys drinking beer and talking sports at that bar. I can always count on this place for more refined action.

Sensing a presence beside me, I casually glance to my left to see a lovely brunette with soft curls, long lashes, and light brown eyes. “Hi. Do you mind if I join you?” she asks coyly before sliding onto the barstool beside me. Well, that didn’t take long.

“Not at all,” I reply with a grin. She’s very attractive. I like that she isn’t bashful about making her desires known. I’m sure there are plenty of single women wanting to get laid without any entanglements. I do the obligatory look toward the ring finger of her left hand and notice it’s absent of any band. “Can I get you a drink?”

“I’d love a dirty Martini. Extra dirty,” she responds with a wink.

Old line, but it’s good to know this one doesn’t mess around. I place her order with the bartender and take a sip of my Scotch. I wonder how long I’ll have to play this game of cat and mouse before we can just head to my hotel room. It’s only 8:00 p.m., but if this woman’s assertiveness is any indication, I think there could be hours of fun to be had ahead of us. If the length of time since my last liaison is any hint, I better enjoy all this night has to offer, as it could be a while before I get laid again. Plus, I really need to focus on work and my dad.

“Uh-hm,” I hear her clear her throat. I’ve obviously been in my own head and not paying attention to what’s just transpired.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I was just thinking about how lucky I was to have such a gorgeous companion and got lost in the moment,” I say, flashing her my million-dollar smile.

Her eyes light up and she places her hand on my left thigh as the bartender brings her Martini.I think the cat just caught her mouse. As I consider what to say to encourage throwing back her drink and making our way to my hotel, I hear familiar laughter. Electricity jolts through me at the sound, and I feel the warmth travel from my ears into my spine. Sitting up straight, I look over my left shoulder and notice none other than Ms. Katarina Kelly holding hands with another stunning brunette.

The current has now traveled directly to my dick. My mind short circuits for a minute. How is it possible this woman, of all women, would be here tonight? What’s more, who’s that she’s with? I play back the interaction we had in the ER the other day.She had said she didn’t date because she only attracted arrogant assholes.But could she have meant she didn’t date men? With her flock of admirers in the ER, I just assumed she was straight. Hell, I thought she was in some sort of relationship with Jake.

“Uh-hm.” Again, I hear a throat clear, realizing I’m obsessing about the woman that drove me here in the first place.

I look back at the forward woman sitting next to me, realizing she’s caught me staring at Kat. I try to think of what to say to get this back on track when I hear an intoxicating belly laugh from Ms. Kelly’s direction. Unable to help myself, I return my gaze to the intriguing PA and make direct eye contact with my delectable brown-eyed shower mate. My breath catches at the sight, her cheeks blush a tantalizing pink hue from hearty merriment. I already know the Dirty Martini drinker will not be able to measure up.That mysterious girl has unknowingly ruined my sex life!

Chapter Eight

Eight Years Earlier

Kat

I sit in the back of the ambulance with Melanie and Jake, trying to make use of the downtime to focus on my studies. We’ve been here in front of this older home covered in black soot, smoke billowing from its sides for hours performing a standby. These types of calls sounded exciting when I first joined the rescue squad, however, I realized later they usually involved a lot of sitting.

There’s a lot more classwork to finish these days, as I’m carrying a full load this semester. I’ve observed enough professions within the medical community that I’ve decided to pursue a degree in physician assistant studies. PA school is competitive. I need to buckle down and focus. I’ve avoided the predicaments I found myself in with men in the past. There’s no room for that horrible distraction in my life. I go on rare dates with guys Melanie and Jake can vouch for, but there’s never any chemistry, and I make sure to keep the dates very light.I’m not going back there again.

“Hey, Kat. You coming by later?” Jake asks.

“Coming by?” I respond, distracted, realizing I’ve bitten off the tip of my pencil’s eraser.

“Aw, come on, Kat. You’ve been so preoccupied lately. Remember Melanie told you about the get-together at our place tonight? We wanted one last party before we have to start packing up to head to Blacksburg.”

Don’t remind me. “Yeah, of course. But don’t expect me to be happy about the fact you two are leaving me.” Jake and Melanie have planned to attend Virginia Tech for grad school for years, and the day has finally come. I should be happy for them but I’m being selfish because they’re the only people I really feel close to besides my grandmother. Thank God I still have her.

“Kat. Don’t be like that. It’s only about three hours away. Plus, your life has gotten so busy with adding to your class load, you’ll barely notice we’re gone.”

“I doubt that. Are you sure you aren’t going to take out a restraining order if I come to visit every weekend?”

“You can come visit as often as you like. I think this is going to be hard on Melanie, too.”

As if hearing her name, the lady in question walks around the back of the ambulance and looks at the two of us inquisitively. “What’s with the long faces? You two look like someone just died.”

“Nah, just making sure Kat’s coming tonight,” Jake reassures. “We were commiserating about how the distance between us over the next few years is going to be tough, but doable.”

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