13. Kat

13

Kat

I was running from all these Taliban who wanted me dead, and they were going to hang me where everyone would be sure to see me. I looked around for Brenda, but she was gone. I stopped; I had to go back for her.

I saw her lying dead on the street, and the men were kicking her. I screamed, and they shot me. I couldn’t stop crying. Brenda is dead. When arms wrapped around me, I hung on to them. It took a while before I realized it was a dream. I wiped my face off with the sheet and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I was dreaming about my friend Brenda. The last time I was in Afghanistan, they murdered Brenda. When I went back to get her, the men were standing around, kicking her and spitting on her. I screamed, and they shot me, but I got away. Brenda didn’t have that chance.”

“Hush, I have you now. Everything is going to be alright. I know how that country is. I’ve had the same nightmares. It’ll be okay. I’m staying right here with you.”

“Will you please lay with me for a while?” I wouldn’t lay back down until he laid with me. It felt so safe and cozy with River beside me; I finally slept without any dreams.

When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by heat, and an arm was across me. I smiled, remembering River was here. His arm tightened.

“I have to get Penny. She won’t even know me.”

“You get to go home today; you’ll see her soon. I need to talk to you about something. When Charlotte came into the office, I didn’t know she was coming over, but I thought that would be the perfect time for you to think something was going on between us.”

“I walked her to her car and then got in mine. Nothing is going on between us. In my stupid head, I thought if you and I got together, then when we broke up, you would quit the job, and I wouldn’t see you anymore.”

“Why did you think we’d break up,” I whispered, turning towards him. “I would never break up with you. I waited too long to be yours and for you to be mine,” I said, looking into his eyes. He kissed my forehead, my nose, and then my lips.

“How about we do this? I’ll take you to dinner in three days at my house.

“Are you going to cook dinner?” I asked.

“Sure, I’m a good cook. I’ll grill the steaks, And you can make the salad. How does that sound?”

“Sounds perfect,” I said. I was kissing his chin.

“Are you two going to stay in bed all day, or are we going home?

Both of us chuckled as Gage walked around the door.

“So, does this mean you two are a thing?”

“Yes, she is mine,” I said

“And he is mine, Kat agreed. No more skinny models are allowed in the Golden Team offices unless one of the others is dating them.”

“And no more surfers are allowed to come and pick you up.”

“That only happened one time.”

“One time was too many; it won’t happen again. If you want to go surfing, I’ll take you. If you want to go out to eat, I’ll take you,” I kissed her softly.

“It’s a deal. Let’s go home,” Kat said, cuddling next to me.

“If you want to go home, you’ll have to stop cuddling. Or else I’ll embarrass myself trying to get out of this bed.”

I heard her chuckle again. “Sorry.”

“I’m happy we got all that out of the way. You are mine, and I will cherish you every day. Will you promise you won’t run off to these dangerous countries without me knowing?”

“If you are there when I’m going, then sure, I’ll tell you. But if you are gone and I need to leave, I’ll call you when I can. You know I don’t go often; I go when I need to help someone. Maybe once a year. You are constantly off saving someone. Perhaps I can start going with the Team more.”

“I can’t get over the so put together Kat Mellows with this Kat,” Gage replied.

I looked at him and smiled. I forgot he was here.