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She dismisses me as if I were help. “Mother, fix the mum situation.” Sweetie glances over her shoulder and tosses her best terse voice my way. “Is there something else you needed, Kat?”
He was not playing. Damn, she’s a snot.
“Sweetie, behave yourself! This is Zane’s fiancée.” I wave. I desperately want a shower and to be left alone. I pull my arm around my middle and my damn t-shirt pops up.
“Pardon me. No idea he was here. It’s such a long overdue pleasure to make your acquaintance. Forgive me.”
Zane sweeps in, red-faced. He physically exerted himself to save me. I’m starting to like the co-conspirator role again.
He kisses his mother and then his sister on the cheek. Then he plants a kiss on my lips. Both of our eyes pop open wide in the middle of it. That was not on the physical affection list. I put my hand out and wiggle it a little.
“Meh.” He laughs at me.
“Meh, my ass.” He gives me a little wink, smug prick.
His hair is wet, as is his back through his yellow and blue linen Tattersall print oxford. I’m still sporting desert hike dust between my ass cheeks. He reaches over and pulls a small twig from my hair. His eyes get wide and I shrug. Had no clue it was there and I even attempted to brush my hair.
He turns to me. “Go clean up, babe?” I bite the inside of my lip. He did not just call me that.
“Ok, babe. I will” I say in a way too sugary voice. I poke him in the belly and say in a faux baby voice. “You better watch your tum tum after that long flight.”
He rolls his eyes and then says, “Always watching out for me, my little Katy.” I physically step back and pretend I’m wounded. He laughs as I turn to leave.
Observing our exchange, Birdie interjects. “How unforgivable of me, I should’ve let her go, but I didn’t know when I might get another opportunity with Kat or is it Kate?”
Zane answers so damn quickly I can’t even get it out, “It’s Katy.” And the round goes to Zane.
If I don’t strangle him for Katy, my mother will. I grin. Not that she’ll ever hear it. It’s actually going to make things easier, I can be Katy for a weekend and go back to being Kat on Monday.
“Mother, we’re here all weekend. There’ll be plenty of time to interrogate her.”
“Behave yourself, Zane. You make me sound like the Spanish Inquisition.”
Sweetie tsks in the corner. “The last girlfriend we met was like eight years ago.”
“Amanda, can you blame me?” Zane shoots back at her with her real name.
I slink toward the door. “If you will excuse me, I’d like to get out of these clothes.”
Zane raises his eyebrows, “I’ll go with you.” What the hell was that? Naked is not on my agenda.
“Your father should be back with Aunt Lolly soon.”
Zane rolls his eyes and inquires, “Why not send a car?”
“She doesn’t trust strange drivers. The boys are golfing right now, should be around the 14th, you can catch them. Or you stay right here and tell your mother where you’ve been this past month. I never know, and you know how I worry. Well, you used to know how worried I got because you used to answer your texts.”
I shudder like my mother’s in the room.
“I’ll stay, Mom. Just walking Katy out.” He puts his hand on my back and pushes me towards the back patio.
I whisper to him as I stand next to my cart giving our goodbye show for his mother and sister. I put my arms on his shoulders and plaster a fake smile on. They’re pretending not to watch. “It’s uncanny. WOW. She’s just so... my mother.”
His voice changes to the one I recognize and so does mine. “I know. I’ll see how you did. Go change.” I exhale quickly and squeeze his arm. “The bacon’s probably cold, but the coffee is warm and caffeinated.”
I lean up to kiss his cheek, and he moves slightly to brush past my lips with his. My breath catches a little and he runs his hand up my arm.
He speaks at normal volume again so our audience can hear. “Last one, there’s an outdoor shower off the other bedroom if you want.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses my nose. Oddly erotic. Ignore it, Kat.
