18. Rook

18

ROOK

“ H e’s doing this to punish me,” Kitty snapped, kicking her feet against the floor of my car. “He doesn’t want me to have fun. It’s like he’s trying to show me that no matter what I do, he’s always going to be right there, holding the power.”

“I could drive you home,” I said. We sat in the parking lot of The Anchor, the place Kitty had chosen for her getting to know you date with her father’s friend. I’d tried to joke that this turn of events showed that Samuel didn’t mind his friends dating his daughter, but that had gone down like a lead balloon. There was no way to make this easier for Kitty or me. I know she’d brought me along for protection and to keep an eye on her, but watching her go on a date with someone else?

I knew she wasn’t interested in any way, but it was still tough.

“No,” Kitty sighed. “I have to do this. God knows what my father will do if I fuck this up, and there’s only so much my Mom can do to appease him. I just…” Kitty adjusted her sparkly halter top and then reached over to take my hand. “I wanted my first date in public to be with you, y’know? So many people are going to see me with this guy and think I’m not really on their side.”

“Those who know you won’t think that,” I assured her quietly. “And I trust you. So do they. We all know you’re trying. This is just Samuel being a prick and throwing a fit because you and your mom showed him up. He’s likely trying to take back control or appease those rich bastards who don’t want to be around regular people.”

“It makes me feel like some kind of prize heifer.” Kitty sighed and pulled down the mirror to adjust her makeup. She’d lined her eyes with black, which made them pop to the point that I was sure I’d be able to pick her out in complete darkness.

“You would be the prize for sure,” I murmured. “But we can still turn back. It’s your choice.”

We looked at one another and for a moment, Kitty looked like she was deciding to leave. Then she pressed her red lips together and sighed.

“Nah. Let’s get this over with. I plan on putting him off as much as I can. And if this is the price I have to pay to get Dad in a room full of this town, then I’ll pay it. Begrudgingly.”

Her soft laugh was humorless as she climbed from the car and stomped across the damp ground. It had rained heavily the past day or two, but luckily, the skies remained clear for me to get Kitty to the bar with minimal weather disturbance to her clothing.

Once inside, we were greeted by Melanie.

“Hey, you two.” She grinned. “It’s good to see you. Kitty, your uh… guest is already here.” Melanie used a glass to point near the end of the bar where a tall man with dark, greasy hair and square spectacles sat perched on a stool. He was dressed in a charcoal suit and perched in such a way that it looked like he was trying to avoid actually touching the stool. My mouth briefly fell open as I watched him gingerly pick up a glass of something clear, sip it, then slowly set it back down. For a moment, he looked as if he expected the lemon slice to jump out of the glass and attack him.

A man like that was clearly used to steakhouses that served wine more expensive than a car, not bars where the atmosphere was thick and the drink was cheap.

“Show time,” Kitty said. She smoothed her hands down her black skirt, once again slid her finger along her lower lip, and headed toward her date.

I took a seat at the bar, settling into the corner where I had a full view of Kitty and… Aaron, I think his name was.

“Can I get you anything?” Melanie asked, busy pouring Kitty’s favorite fruity drink.

“Just water,” I replied. “I’m working.”

“You’re always working.” Melanie snorted. “I suppose Kitty is too.”

“Yeah…” I puffed out my cheeks and rested one elbow on the bar. “Actually, make it a lemonade. I need the tartness to distract me.”

“Coming right up.”

As Melanie worked, I kept all of my attention on Kitty. She greeted Aaron warmly, and he was eager to shake her hand. He almost tripped over himself trying to pull the stool out for her until he realized the stools didn’t quite work like that. Once they were seated, Kitty turned around and pointed directly at me.

She must have been introducing me because pale Aaron paled even further as we locked eyes.

This guy looked like he had more money than sense. Either that or this atmosphere and Kitty looking that good in a halter top and skirt were enough to shake him right down to his balls.

“Here ya go, champ.” Melanie set my drink down, then she stepped away from the bar to bring Kitty hers. She smiled brightly at the two of them and then patted Kitty on the shoulder as she left.

My stomach knotted itself as I watched. While Aaron kept his hands to himself, it still bugged me. I wanted to be the one on the date with her. I wanted to be staring at her face as her eyes lit up through whatever story she was telling. I wanted to admire the silver strands she’d woven into her braid and take her hand over the drinks and promise to treat her right.

Instead, I had to watch.

“You know anything about him?” Melanie asked me half an hour later when there was finally a lull in the customers swarming the bar.

“Nah.” I shrugged one shoulder. “He’s a friend of Samuel’s. Although definitely from the rich and dumb side of things. If I remember correctly, I think I saw him once or twice at the shareholder meetings. He’s in charge of providing finances for… something. The construction materials or something?”

“He looks young,” Melanie mused, furiously polishing a glass. “Too young for that kind of money.”

“Aye.” I drained my glass. “Probably why he thinks destroying a place like this is fine in the face of progress or some shit.” I shook my head. “Bunch of dumbasses. I have to stand there sometimes and listen to them talking about the future, the cost of progress and shit like they’re doing something great for the world. I’m a fucking soldier. I’ve done more for the world than they ever will. All they’re doing is building a fucking road no one wants.”

“Wow.” Melanie laughed loudly. “Well, aren’t you spicy when you’re jealous?”

“I’m not jealous,” I replied. “I trust Kitty. I’m envious . That might be worse.”

“You don’t think that’s in your future?” She leaned close and smirked. “A cute little date with Kitty in public?”

“I don’t know.” My fingernails caught along the edge of the glass. “What I want and what has a chance of happening are two different things.”

“Would it help if I told you she’s smitten with you?”

“A little.” I slid my empty glass toward her. “Sorry. I shouldn’t be ranting at you like this.”

“Honey, I run a bar. I recharge myself by listening to stuff like this. And your little rant is so tame. I bet she’ll love to know how you were sitting here, pining after her all night.”

Somehow, Melanie drew a laugh out of me. “A little pathetic, isn’t it?”

“Considering you know how she feels?” Melanie winked at me. “Just a little.”

It helped to get the burst of annoyance out because after it, the tension was gone from my chest. What little envy there was faded. Aaron was trying his best. I could tell that from how his brows raised constantly and the way he moved his hands. Kitty’s back was to me, but even from here, I could see she was as stiff as a board. She laughed a few times, drained her glass quickly, and ordered another with a wave of her hand.

The hour ticked by slowly, and I was about to slide out of my seat for a stretch when Aaron and Kitty stood.

Was the date over?

Kitty approached with Aaron in tow and gave a bright smile that seemed happy, but her eyes were anything but.

“We’re going outside because Aaron is finding it claustrophobic in this… how did you put it again?”

“Oh.” Aaron pushed his glasses up his nose. “Common bars like this set me off. The stale uhm… sweat and such is a lot to take at one time.”

Melanie clattered her glasses louder as she worked.

“Alright.” Thankful for the chance to stretch my legs, I stood.

“Oh, sir. There’s no need. I can take care of Kitty.” Aaron smiled up at me and placed his hand on Kitty’s elbow.

“I go where she goes,” I said stiffly. “No exceptions.”

“Even the bathroom?” Aaron snorted as if it were the funniest little thing.

“Even the bathroom,” Kitty replied, and she stalked away toward the door, leaving Aaron and his rapidly flushing face behind. He glanced between Kitty and me, then chose to hurry after Kitty. I followed after catching Melanie dramatically rolling her eyes.

Outside, the late December chill was a biting contrast to the warmth of the bar. I immediately shrugged off my jacket and draped it over Kitty’s shoulders. She flashed me a grateful smile.

“I’m humoring him for twenty more minutes and then telling him I’d rather hang than spend an entire night with him at the ball.”

“Little dramatic.” I snorted quietly.

“He spent forty minutes educating me on what he expects from a lady and how my skirt is that of a harlot.”

My eyes widened. “Alright. I get your point.”

Aaron joined us a moment later, and he seemed much happier outside than in the bar.

“Shall we?” He grinned eagerly at Kitty, who nodded and fell into step beside him. I let them get twelve or so feet away and then followed them. The cold was bitter and would give me the perfect excuse to sweep in and take Kitty home if we stayed out here much longer. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but each time Aaron walked close, Kitty walked away to keep space between them.

We walked around the bar illuminated by the multiple strings of Christmas lights winding around all of the wooden pillars and roof awnings. This place was really beautiful. The only thing that was missing was a dusting of snow.

Around the back of The Anchor, we wandered near the crumpled, sagging remains of the barn. I had heard stories of the parties that had been hosted there, and it was sad to see it in such a sorry state. If only the mayor cared more about fixing the little things.

Thirty more steps and suddenly, the skies split open. A gigantic clap of thunder exploded overhead, making all three of us jump, and then the rain poured. It fell fast and hard, as if someone had turned on a power washer, and Kitty screamed as she was instantly soaked.

“Wait, no!” I yelled as Aaron grabbed Kitty’s hand and pulled her toward shelter under the sagging awning of the barn.

Immediately, I broke into a sprint as Kitty wrestled herself free. The pitch of the rain muffled her words, but I caught the sharp bark of her voice as she yelled something. Aaron grabbed her again, pulling her further under the awning.

I couldn’t run fast enough.

In a matter of seconds, the downpour flooded the top of the awning, adding to the water already weighing it down. A metallic screech filled the air, followed by a terrible groan of wood. Suddenly, the barn's awning crumpled downward.

“Kitty!” I yelled as Aaron launched himself forward. Metal and wood clattered to the ground in a cacophony of crashes, creaks, and more. A cloud of dust rose up and vanished just as fast as it was consumed by the rain.

Aaron lay at my feet as I came to a stop, panting. The collapsing barn had missed him by a hair's breadth.

Kitty was nowhere to be seen.