Page 65 of Deprivation

Nick: I’m okay with that.

Holy crap, is this really happening?

8:20 p.m.

Kat: Well, it’s simpler if I show you.

Oh. My. God. This is another line from the movie, but I’m sure he doesn’t know that!

8:30 p.m.

Nick Barnes

Nick: Baby, you can show me anything you want.

“Oh, lord,” I groan. How am I ever going to explain this?

8:35 p.m.

Kat: I may look like a baby, but I’m born all grown up.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph… How many times have they seen this movie to have memorized all of these lines? That must have been what Luke was dictating into the phone when I caught them giggling. But again, Nick thinks this is me!

8:37 p.m.

Nick Barnes

Nick: Trust me, kitten, I know you’re all grown up

Holy shit. Is he drunk?I’m glad I retrieved the phone from Luke before it became X-rated.

8:55 p.m.

Nick Barnes

Nick: Kat?

I read back through the messages a second and third time, astonished at what was happening right under my nose.What on Earth do I text him after all of that?Before I can contemplate how to find an escape hatch to avoid drowning in this shit storm, the door swings open, and Rachel and Steven walk in.

“Hey, thanks again, Kat. Anything happen I should know about?”

My eyes flick to hers quickly, as if she knows her kids have been engaging in stealthy Tinder chats on my phone. “No. Everything’s good. It’sallgood.” I stretch thealla little longer than necessary. “Gotta run. Bye.” I notice a look of concern on Rachel’s face as I pass. Now to figure out if I should address this with Nick or just leave it be.

* * *

It’s now 10:00 p.m., and I’m home and ready for bed. Admittedly, I needed a glass of wine on my return to settle myself about these crazy texts. I quite honestly don’t have the mental fortitude to come up with some witty response to send Nick tonight and don’t want to be up all night thinking about them. I’ll wait and see if he brings it up in the future. Otherwise, I’ll chalk it up to him having a few too many drinks. He’ll probably forget the whole thing ever happened.Right?

Reaching to my nightstand, I grab a sleeping pill from my pill bottle and take a sip from my wine. As I grab my phone, I contemplate what I can play that will distract me from the carnage of my evening. Hmm, Rihanna would be good. Can’t think about much when I’m dancing to her. As I lie down, I hear “Where Have You Been” start to play and hope the sleeping aid kicks in quickly.

* * *

God, I love to dance. There’s nothing better than dressing up, feeling confident, and letting go to a great song. It’s even better in a place like this. I walk about the club, dark and a little more crowded than the last time I was here. The dance floor’s covered, but not overly congested. I decide to grab a shot of Tequila from one of the shot girls dancing on the podium. Feeling the warm burn of alcohol coat my throat, I take a bite of lemon and a lick of salt from the rim.Hmm, that’s good.

“Where Have You Been” plays and the sexy, upbeat song has me swinging my arms overhead and undulating suggestively to the music. Feeling the loud hum take over, I give in to the sound and close my eyes and dance. Part of the way through the first chorus, I open my eyes and notice a familiar figure in the crowd by the bar. He’s standing tall with his feet shoulder width apart, left hand in his pants pocket while holding a crystal tumbler in the other. There’s so much confidence and sex appeal radiating from him. Did he follow me here? How did he know I’d come tonight?

Already feeling aroused by Rihanna and her tunes, I look away and decide I need to make a hasty exit before I give in and do something I shouldn’t. I back through the crowd and head toward the door. As I reach the front of the bar, I look over my shoulder to see Nick is watching me. I hastily dart through the front entrance onto the sidewalk. I feel a slight shiver when my warm, damp skin hits the early fall night air. I dressed for style and not comfort in this black tank dress. There’s a long slit up one leg, allowing the cool air to hit me from all directions.

I decide to clear my head with a quick walk along the water. This particular club was built in a warehouse district that abuts the river. Sliding off my slingback pumps, I start to walk up the grass covered hill behind the nightclub. Probably not a wise idea at this hour, but I’m feeling embolden. As I walk toward the trees and water sparkling down below, I notice an audible crunch of leaves. Looking down, I realize there are none in my path.

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