Page 1001 of One More Kiss

Kate

Doc gaveme a clean bill of health. All I had was a little bump and a tiny cut on my head from the fall. My ego had taken a bigger hit than that.

It’s nothing against you, I’m just not looking for a mate.

Wyatt’s words continued to haunt me even days later. We’d crossed paths a few times but overall, I was doing well to just avoid him like the plague.

The good thing was, Austin was less inclined to drag me around with him and his friends after the horseback riding adventure. Apparently, he was still taking shit from his friends for fainting from the trickle of blood the cut on my head had caused.

I’d been in Collier for one full week and so far it had sucked even worse than being at home. At least home I didn’t have to deal with him, or worse, I didn’t have to not deal with him.

The fact that Wyatt still hadn’t come to check on me or anything hurt far more than I was willing to admit. I found my temper short, and my irritation high.

“I’m going out but the guys are coming over for poker and a movie tonight,” Austin said and then hesitated like he wanted to say something more. “Um, we’re going to be up late and probably pretty loud so if you want, you could stay in the guest room upstairs tonight.”

I glared at him.

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“But I just warned you it’s going to be loud and late.”

“I’m not giving up my bed so your friends can crash here. I live here now too, like it or not.”

“Aw, come on, Kitty Kate, it’s not like that.”

“It’s exactly like that and stop calling me that. I hate that name.”

“Whatever. I was just trying to give you a head’s up.”

I was stressed and knew his suggestion was the smartest route for me to go, especially if Wyatt was going to be here, but defiantly I wouldn’t accept it.

When my life spun out of control, I turned to cooking, so I got into my car and drove to the next town over where I knew there was a large grocery store that Aunt Trudy shopped at each week.

Powell’s Grocery seemed to have everything I needed to turn my day around. I started to relax and even smile as I picked through produce and walked the aisles of immeasurable options.

With bags of groceries bought and paid for, I headed home and got to work losing myself in the joys of cooking.

I hadn’t meant to run into Austin’s poker time. Not that he’d actually told me what time everyone was coming over but for some reason when he said poker and movie night, I thought it would be much later. Not at six o’clock.

My hair was a mess piled high in a sloppy bun on top of my head. I had on no makeup and was likely covered in flour from the scratch baked cinnamon rolls now cooking in the oven as I plated a large portion of meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, and asparagus onto my plate.

Food didn’t have to be fancy, just delicious and my meatloaf was the best.

“What is that smell?” Emmett asked.

I cringed. “Sorry. I thought you guys were going to be later.”

“My mouth is literally watering. Please tell me we’re having that and not pizza again tonight.”

“Yes, please,” Clay practically begged.

James really did beg as he got down on his knees at my feet. “Please Kate. I need some of that right now.”

Austin walked out and frowned at the guys drooling over my cooking. “What do you assholes want on your pizza?”

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