EroticReverie

Kate Carter

The next morning after I nurse my hangover with the last two advil in my purse and a whole pitcher of water. I shower the booze out of my pores , again getting water all over the floor, then soak in the tub for a bit before getting out, wrapping myself in a towel and going to my room. 

Hangers. I needed hangers to hang my clothes in my tiny closet. I had a new growing list of more things I needed to buy, and things I had to do.  

Not only did I have to shop for my apartment, I had to look for a job. My father and mother had given me a good amount of money to start off. However, even though my father bought the first month of rent and paid the utilities for the first month. I was in charge of the other eleven months. And the money he gave , wasn't going to be enough to cover it. So I needed to find a job, and prove myself to my parents, that while I was indeed spoiled, I wasn't the air head they thought I was deep down. 

When I get to my room, I look across the alleyway from my window, and peek into Colson's window. No sign of him, so he mustve left for work. 

I get dressed away from my window, and then go to the bathroom to apply my makeup and do my hair. I straighten it out, and apply and anti frizz serum then clip it back on one side with a simple white barrette to match the white sweater I'm wearing, with another pair of dark blue designer jeans, and my white, genuine leather, Stuart Weitzman heeled ankle boots. 

Grabbing my purse I head out of the apartment, giving myself a pep talk all the way down to my car. 

I got this. I can do this. Easy peasy. 

However when I get to my Jeep Cherokee and turn the key in the ignition. The thing doesn't start. 

"No." I say. 

I try it again, and again. 

"Dammit!" I say throwing myself back in the seat and groaning. 

Part of me believed my father purposely set me up with a lemon of a car. So, I wouldnt be able to stretch the money he gave me all twelve months. He wanted me to fail. Okay, that probably wasn't true. so I take out my phone.

"Daddy?" I say as he answers. 

"Kathryn" he says. "I didn't hear from you yesterday." 

"Yeah, um, sorry. I was busy, you know...had to go buy a few things for the place. Thanks again by the way." I say trying not to complain that all he gave me to start with was a twin bed and a roll of toilet paper. Oh, and a hunk of junk car. 

"You got there alright, didn't run into any trouble?" he asks.

"Yeah, I got here fine, no trouble. It's cold here." I say. 

He chuckles. "Sure is. I miss it sometimes." 

"I don't think I could ever miss this." I say. 

"So what are your plans for the day?" he asks. 

"Well, I was going to go pick up a few things I forgot at the store. Like a shower curtain, and curtains for the windows. Then I was going to go out and pick up some job applications, or go around, see who was hiring, fill out some online or something."  I say. 

"Was?" he asks. 

"Yeah, well...um the thing is...the Jeep Cherokee, while she got me to where I was going yesterday, today she's not going anywhere. She won't start Daddy" I say and break into a whine. 

I wasn't trying to be a brat. I was just frustrated. I was set on proving him wrong, and then called him at the first sign of a real problem.

"Hmmm, you should call a shop, see if they can take a look." he says. 

I sigh. "Yeah, I know. I just..."

"Wanted me to offer a better car?" he asks, as if he's trying to get me to admit I want him to bail me out. 

"What? No. I just...I don't know...I want to show you I can do this...but I just didn't expect on day two, to have my mode of transportation to flake out on me." I say. 

"Life has setbacks Kathryn." he says.

"Daddy I know." I say.

"You'll have to call a shop." he says. "You have the money I gave you. You know how much is on the cards I gave you." he says. 

"Okay." I say. 

"Okay." he says. 

"Well...I gotta go...tell mom and Serena I love them?" I say. 

"Will do pumpkin." he says. 

"I love you." I say. 

"Love you too sweetheart. You got this." he says and I feel a ball suddenly form in my throat. Was he actually rooting for me? Did he believe I was capable?

"Yeah. I do." I say quietly. 

"Bye sweetie." he says.

"Bye Daddy." 

--

I get out of my car and then walk with my purse down the block, towards one of the coffee and tea shops I'd seen closed up last night when we all walked to the bar.

I walk in and find it pretty empty, and then check my phone to connect to wifi. Walking up to the counter I look at the menu as an employee walks out of the back. 

My eyes go to them with a friendly smile. A man a few inches taller than me, with blonde hair, and tattoos up and down his arms, wearing a grey shirt, with a black apron and jeans is looking at me with a smile that I know all too well. 

"Hi, can I help you?" he asks as he walks to the register and his eyes go up and down, checking me out, his eyes lingering a second too long on my chest. The white sweater is form fitting, and even though its a cowl neck and barely shows a thing, the fact it's tight enough to make out the shape of my breasts and their size, has mister tattoo man taking advantage. Yep. That was the look I was used to. 

"Can I just get a large coffee please?" I smile. "and maybe one of the scones." I say pointing to the top shelf of the glass case. 

"Sure thing." he says with a nod. 

"Regular or decaf on the coffee?" he asks as he turns towards the coffee pots. 

"Oh, regular. Definitely." I say and he gives a little laugh as he pulls a tall paper cup from a stack, flips it and pours the steaming coffee into it. My mouth salivating, my veins ready for the caffeine boost. 

He slides it onto the counter after putting a carboard sleeve over it, and a plastic top.

"For here or to go?" he says as he opens the bakery case. 

"Oh, for here please." I say and he smiles and winks. 

I bite my lips together, ignoring the wink as he pulls a scone out with tongs, and plates it on simple white plate and slides it next to the coffee and just smiles. 

"Um, how much do I owe you?" I ask. 

He shakes his head. "It's on me." he says. 

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that" I say as I make to open my purse and he holds a hand out in a stop gesture. 

"Please, i want to." he says. 

"And maybe if you want, you'll let me buy you a drink sometime. That's not coffee?" he asks. 

I smile and chew the side of my lip. 

He wasn't bad looking at all. He was actually pretty attractive. Reminded me of one of the wannabe rockstars I'd "dated" back in L.A. 

"Sorry if that's too forward. But I'd be a fool not shoot my shot right now." he says and I give a little laugh and nod. 

I shrug. "Well, I'm new here, and could use some friends." I say. 

He smiles and licks his lips. "Of course."

Even though both of us know the way he's looking at me, he doesn't want to be my friend. But want's to be friends with my bed, with me on my back. 

I hold out my hand. "Give me your phone." I say. 

He smiles, sliding it out of his back pocket of his jeans, unlocks it and hands it to me and brings up the contacts screen. 

I program my number in. 

"It's under K.C" I say and put the phone back in his palm.

He smiles. "Gonna tell me what those initials stand for?" he asks. 

"Kate Carter." I say and he nods. 

"Name is Jake" he says. "Jake Garvey"

I narrow my eyes. "How old are you Jake Garvey?" I ask. 

"Twenty one" he answers and I nod. He was a year younger than me. 

"You?" he asks. 

"Twenty two." I ask. 

He smiles. "Got me beat." he says. 

I give a little laugh. "Yeah." I say. 

"Well..." I clear my throat and lift my coffee and scone. 

"I have a few emails to get to that urgent. And I dont want to keep you." I say. 

He smiles. "Sure....so I can call you later?" he asks as the door opens and another customer walks in. 

"Yeah." I say with a nod. 

"I'll do that then, Kate Carter" he says with a devils grin, that let's me know this boy will only be trouble, but, a little trouble will be fine while I'm here. 

I give a little laugh and turn with my things and jump slightly almost dropping my scone when a large body is right there behind me. 

"Oh sorry I...." I stop and my eyes narrow. 

"You." I say. 

Colson is looking down at me. 

"Peeping Kate." he says and I let out a little huff. 

"Didn't think you'd be up this early after you drank half the bar last night." he says and I sense the barista boy watching our interaction. 

It's then that I remember his suggestion for me to even the score last night. My cheeks flush and I choose to ignore his comment and side step him and walk to a table by the window. 

He orders and I try to ignore the deepness of his voice as it sends shivers down my spine. How could a man ordering a large black coffee and a breakfast sandwich make my panties throw a party for him? Jesus. I needed to get laid. 

I google mechanics in the area, finding which shops are open. Read some of the reviews as I chew my lip and then take a sip of coffee.

I feel his heavy footsteps on the hardwood and then jump slightly when the chair beside me pulls out and he sets his plate down with his breakfast sandwich and then his coffee and sits down. 

I look to him as he just rips open two packets of sugar, dumping them in his coffee, and adding a creamer. 

I smirk to myself and then look back at my phone. 

"What are you doing?" he asks. 

I turn my head to him. "Huh?" 

He juts his chin out. 

"Why you looking at mechanics?" he asks and I cock a brow. 

"You're nosy." I say. "Looking at my phone?" 

"If I recall, you looked at a lot more than my phone last night" he says with a little smirk. 

I roll my eyes. "You're beating a dead horse. Get over it. It was an accident."

"Some say, it's almost like a horse." he says. 

I squirm in my seat. 

"you're charming." I say with a roll of my eyes and look back to my phone. 

"So why are you looking at mechanics?" he asks again. I sigh. 

"Because, my car wouldn't start this morning." I say. 

"what's wrong with it?" he asks. 

I look to him and give him a "Really?" look. 

"I don't know. It just wouldn't start." I say and turn back to my phone. 

He takes a sip of his coffee and I hear him let out a frustrated grunt. 

"I can take a look at it." he says. 

I turn to look at him again, as he just sips his coffee, looking out the window. 

"Don't sound so enthused about it. Did it physically pain you to offer?" I ask. 

He sucks his teeth. 

"I'm not enthused about it. But i'll look at it." he says. 

"Gee, thanks." I say and roll my eyes and turn back to my phone. 

"Don't bother." I mutter. "I got it covered." 

"Every place in this town will over charge you, unless they know you. I'll look at it tonight." he says. 

"You don't hav-"

"Kate." he says and gruffly and looks to me, cutting me off. 

"I said I'm gonna look at it." he says sharply and I jerk my head back.

"Alright, geeze, fine, okay." I say as I set my phone down and pick apart my scone. 

"thank you" I say and he just nods and grumbles. 

Each of us sitting in silence as we eat our breakfast food and drink our coffees.