A Purr-fect Guy

Kevin hauled his bag off the bus as the other three walked into the hotel ahead of him. He couldn’t help but study the way Kat walked. She had a real unique touch to her walk. She swung her hips lazily and just kinda strolled. He liked watching her. He had given up on his book within five minutes of Kat’s arrival on their tourbus. Her soft voice had cut through any concentration he might have pretended to have. He just had to listen whenever she spoke. He had hoped to find out more about her night with Nick but she had never said a word. And he was too afraid to ask. Damn, he needed Madeleine. One night with her would drive all these dumb sentimental thoughts out of his head. He walked into the hotel and joined Kat at the reception desk. Brian and Howie had already disappeared.
“What do ya mean you don’t have a room for me?!” Kat exclaimed.
“Just that madam,” said the clerk snootily. “We don’t have a room for you.”
“Is there a problem?” asked Kevin redundantly.
“They don’t have a reservation in my name,” Kat groaned.
“Katharine Owen?” Kevin asked the clerk.
“And once again, no.”
“Ok, well do you have any spare rooms?”
“For tonight?” asked the clerk.
“No, for Thanksgiving” said Kevin exasperatedly as Kat smothered a giggle. “Yes, for tonight.”
“No, we’re full.”
“Jeez, well, do you have a room for me? Kevin Richardson.”
“One moment…” The clerk checked the computer and then handed him a key. “Yes, it’s room 314 on the third floor. If you’d sign here please sir.” Kevin signed the book and took the key.
“C’mon Kat, you can have my room.” Before Kat could say anything, the clerk interrupted.
“It’s forbidden to have overnight guests sir.”
“She’s not a guest,” said Kevin walking towards the elevators with Kat. He pressed the button and they step inside. “You can have my room tonight Kat.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“I can borrow a floor off one of the guys.”
“But you have a show and it’d be awful if ya had to sleep on the floor right after,” Kat argued.
“Good for my back,” reasoned Kevin as they reached the third floor. He walked Kat down to room 314 and opened the door. They both walked inside.
“Oh hey, twin beds,” Kat remarked.
“Yeah,” Kevin smiled and started to head back out the door.
“Kevin, why don’t you just take one of the beds?”
“Uh…” he looked at Kat. The suggestion made sense but he wasn’t sure he could spend a night in the same room as Kat. “I’ll be ok. Bye.”
Kat watched him leave and shut the door. Trust her to fall for a guy who couldn’t even stand to be in the same room with her.

“Sorry bro but I only got one bed. Ya can have the floor,” offered AJ as Kevin slumped against the doorframe with a groan.
“Why is it the only room with two beds is the one Kat has?!”
“Fate,” chuckled AJ. “Ya can have this room dude, I’ll go share with Kat…”
“No way. YOU can’t be trusted to be alone with ANY girl, let alone Kat.” Kevin headed back down the hallway.
“At least we know Kat’s gonna be safe from YOU!” called AJ with a laugh.

Kat tied the towel around her chest as she walked back into the main room. She checked the clock. The Boys’ concert would be over by now and Kevin would be back soon. He had asked her if he could take the empty bed, dropped his bag and left quickly. She opened up her laptop and sat at the table to type up a few notes.

“Another drink?” Kevin asked Howie. He was desperate to avoid returning to his room until he could be sure Kat would be asleep.
“Sorry bro, I need to get some sleep,” Howie yawned and Kevin caught it. “And so do you.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Kevin stood up and followed his friend up to their floor. “See ya tomorrow bro.”
“Sleep well,” Howie smiled. “Say goodnight to Kat if she’s awake.”
“Ok,” Kevin pushed open his door and closed it quietly. The room was dimly lit and he could just make out Kat sat at the table. He groaned inwardly as she looked up. Why couldn’t she have been asleep? She stood up slowly and he bit his lip. She was wearing a towel and God he just wanted to rip it off her.
“Hi, good show?”
“Uh… Yeah…” he was aware of his mouth suddenly drying up as she looked down at herself and blushed. She walked into the bathroom and re-emerged minutes later in black PJs. “Howie said goodnight.”
“Cool.” She closed her laptop as he headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. She climbed into her bed and curled up beneath the covers. She had her eyes closed when Kevin walked back in but lost the fight to keep them that way. She saw him pull on a pair of black boxers and towel his dark hair. He turned the table lamp off and slipped into his bed. A few minutes later, his phone rang and he swore under his breath before answering it.
“Hello?… Madeleine! But it’s kinda late… Yes I am, aren’t you?… Oh, which club?… Well, I’m tired. I have a long day ahead ya know… The show went great, thanks for asking,” he said angrily before clicking the phone off. “Sorry Kat,” he whispered.
“It’s ok. I wasn’t asleep,” she replied. “Uh, is Madeleine ok?”
“When ISN’T Madeleine ok?” asked Kevin bitterly. “She’s her number one priority.”
“Ok…” Kat muttered.
“Sorry,” Kevin sighed in the darkness. “She got mad cos I wouldn’t talk to her. But I’m TIRED ya know?”
“Yeah, I know. You must miss her though.”
“I guess. Kat, are you and Nick…?”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Oh, it’s just that AJ said ya spent the night together.”
“He was just winding ya up. We had a pizza and we talked and then I went home.” There was a long silence. “Why are ya so bothered?”
“I’m not. It’s just… Nick’s been hurt before.”
“So have I,” Kat said sadly.
“Wanna tell me?” he asked quietly.
“No.” She rolled over with her back to him. “Goodnight Kevin.”
“Goodnight Kat.”

Next...
Back To Fiction