Catching Kate: The Acceptance Series

by D. Kelly

  ~~~***~~~

  When I walk in the house, I’m immediately greeted by April. She’s been assigned lookout duty because she’s waiting for me with three shots of tequila. I pound them all in a row as my body absorbs not only the alcohol, but the massive amounts of bass shooting through me while Straight Outta Compton by Dr. Dre pumps through the surround sound speakers.

  After the shots April gives me a big hug.

  “What’s with the welcome wagon?”

  She flicks me in the head. “What, can’t a girl be nice?”

  “Of course, and you’re one of the nicest, but you usually don’t meet me at the door with shots.”

  “Busted. I just wanted you to loosen up a bit. I know Connor roped you in to doing this. But damn, Mike, Debbie does look a lot like Vanessa. I’m talking double take. And although I can appreciate the girl’s beauty, I know it might be hard for you to get past seeing bitchface when you look at her. I thought the shots would help you out a bit.”

  I give her a quick peck on the cheek, “And that is why you’re one of the best women I know. Thanks for looking out but I’ll be fine. Just a few hours and I’ll go pass out.”

  “You know, Mike, in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never said anything about your past. I’m curious to know who the other best women you know are. Maybe you can fill me in someday?”

  Leave it to a woman to take an opening and run with it. She’s probably been waiting for an opening like that for a long time. “Sure, April, not anytime soon but someday I’ll tell you all about them. If I get lucky, I might even be able to introduce you someday. But for today, lead me to the torture chamber.”

  She giggles at me and I can tell she’s been drinking because April is so not a giggler. “Your wish is my command.”

  As we cross through the living room, I see Connor in the kitchen with a girl. The closer we get I almost start to wonder how Daniel and Vanessa beat me here. That’s how much Debbie looks like Vanessa. Sure there are subtle differences, but you know how they say everyone has a twin? Well, Debbie, without a doubt, is Vanessa’s.

  “Mike, it’s about time! Come meet Debbie. Debbie, this is my friend, Mike.” The look in Connor’s eyes is purely devious; he can’t wait for Vanessa to lose her lid.

  I made nice with Debbie for about an hour before Daniel and Vanessa arrived. We were all around the fire pit when they got there and the look on Vanessa’s face was beyond priceless. Daniel seemed a little taken aback, too, but he recovered nicely. Connor made introductions and they pulled up some chairs and joined us. Vanessa quickly ditched her chair and crawled up into Daniel’s lap instead. I don’t know how he does it; just looking at her makes my skin crawl. After bragging to everyone about the new pair of Louboutins Daniel bought her, she finally decided to ask questions.

  “So, where did you meet Debbie? It’s crazy how much we look like each other! I didn’t realize you had a thing for blondes, Mike.”

  “Connor introduced us tonight; he thought we might hit it off. I’ve never limited myself to hair color, Vanessa. I pick my women based on their personalities and our sexual chemistry. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  Smart girl that she is, Debbie picks up on the tension immediately, hopefully Daniel does, too. “It is interesting how much we look alike, but it’s California and I guess us blondes are a dime a dozen here.”

  That earns Debbie a few laughs and takes her up a couple notches in my book. She isn’t going to let Vanessa get to her, either. She leans over and whispers in my ear, “I’m not sure what the game is here, but I don’t like her so I’m up for it. This could be fun. I’ll follow your lead if you want to play.”

  This girl is awesome and I most definitely want to play. This is going to be so much fun. Leaning into her, I take the lead and pull her into a quick kiss. She’s actually very responsive, and I wonder if she’ll stick around for some fun later.

  “I’ll be back in a few. I’m going to hit the head and I’ll bring another bottle of tequila out when I come back. Play nicely while I’m gone.”

  When I step out of the bathroom, I’m shocked to see Vanessa sitting on the bed. There was a line downstairs but I knew there wouldn’t be one upstairs.

  “What in the hell kind of game are you playing, Mike?”

  She’s pissed.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not playing any games.”

  “Oh come off it! You just happen to be here tonight with a girl that looks like me? Is this your subtle way of telling me you want me after all? I’m ready and willing, Mike, whenever you are. I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  While she’s talking, she has gotten so close to me that I’m essentially backed into a wall, trying to get as far away from her as possible. Her fingers caress my face and it gives me the chills. She’s a crazy bitch! My temper flares and I push her hand off of my face.

  “You have a boyfriend, Vanessa, what about him? Daniel loves you and you would just throw that away to have sex with me? Even if I did want you, which I don’t, you would be willing to give up Daniel for a one night stand?”

  “I like Daniel. He’s kind and gentle and he gives me whatever I want, whenever I want it. He’s great and I could make it work with him but I would rather make it work with you instead. Can’t you feel the sexual heat between us, Mike? It’s so intense. Just looking at you and hearing your voice makes me almost come in my panties. Here, feel for yourself.” She pulls my hand and tries to get me to feel under her dress. That’s when I lose my shit.

  “You have no idea how men work, do you? Do you think that men, and I’m talking real men, Vanessa, not these boys you must be used to messing with. Do you think that men do this kind of shit to each other? Sleep with their best friend, their freaking brother’s girl? They don’t. Real men have each other’s backs. This shit ends tonight, you got it? It’s over. I’m telling him everything you’ve done up until now and I’m telling him about tonight.”

  “He won’t believe you.”

  I was heading toward the door but the chill in her tone has the hair on my neck standing up.

  “He has no reason not to.”

  The smile that flashes across her face is one of victory. It’s got my stomach in knots. What did she do?

  “I get what I want, Mike. Always. I’ve been telling Daniel for months that I think you’re flirting with me, hitting on me. I told him I’m uncomfortable around you. Why do you think when we’re all together he pulls me close, marks his territory, and shows me so much affection? It’s because I’ve planted the seed. That’s all it takes, he can dismiss it and say he doesn’t believe it, but at the end of the day he will. It’s my word against yours. We’ve been gone a while. I’ve been in line for the bathroom but what’s your excuse?”

  Damn. I’ve got no choice but to call her bluff and hope that Connor, Jake and April will have my back.

  “Do what you have to, Vanessa, I’m over this. Just be warned, if you tell him your days are numbered, but then again they’re numbered even if you don’t tell him.”

  On the way downstairs I get sidetracked in the kitchen by some girls who decided they wanted to bake some cookies. They were pretty baked themselves and I convinced one of Connor’s friends to run to the store and get them some cookies instead. By the time I got back outside they had already brought the tequila out and started the shots without me. It makes me so sick seeing Vanessa there all cuddly in Daniel’s arms and he has no clue what a deceptive bitch she really is. As much as he deserves to know, I’m dreading the fact that I have to be the one to break his heart.

  ~~~***~~~

  When I wake up in the morning I’ve got a pounding headache. I’m in the guest room and can’t remember how I got here. The last thing I remember is coming outside after the bathroom and taking a couple of shots. Vanessa kept smirking at me and it was really pissing me off so I tried passing the time by making out with Debbie. I vaguely remember sex because she kept telling me to yell he
r name. I don’t usually do that, I usually have control. I keep trying to remember the details, but after that my memory is an absolute blank.

  Getting out of bed kills me. I ache everywhere. What the hell happened last night? Why can’t I remember anything? I’ve been drunk as hell before but never blackout drunk. Maybe I’ll feel better after some coffee and some ibuprofen. The house is super quiet as I drag myself down the stairs, feeling every aching muscle as I go. I could be getting sick. That would explain the aches, and since I don’t get sick often, when I do it’s pretty bad.

  Thankfully, somebody’s awake because the smell of coffee meets me head on. I’m eternally grateful for not having to wait for a pot to brew. Since I have no clue what time it is, they could all be up and out of the house by now. It would also explain why it’s so quiet. As I make my way into the kitchen, I’m shocked to see that they’re all sitting at the table. Quite honestly, they look like someone died. This is not good.

  “Morning, guys” I barely croak out, even my voice doesn’t want to work today.

  “Morning, Mike” they all reply in unison. Odd. Daniel’s head is in his hands and he isn’t making eye contact with anyone. I hope he’s okay.

  “So how was your night last night, Mike? Did you and Debbie hit it off?” Well, at least Connor seems normal.

  “I guess so. Honestly, guys, I don’t remember much after coming back from the bathroom and taking those first two shots. Everything after that is missing. I think I sort of remember she had a fetish about me calling out her name over and over. I don’t think I’ve ever said Debbie so much in my life. Other than that, it’s all a blank. I’m tired, my body hurts, and my head is pounding. If I didn’t know any better, I would think someone slipped me a roofie.”

  They all exchange an odd look with each other like maybe somebody did slip me a roofie. Daniel finally lifts his head and he looks like hell. It looks like he hasn’t slept at all. What in the world is going on around here? I’m thinking I missed something major last night.

  “Guys, I’m getting a really bad vibe here. Can someone please tell me what I’m missing?

  “Yeah, Mike, I can. Come in the other room and we’ll talk, just the two of us.”

  I follow Daniel’s lead into the living room, coffee in hand, and take a seat on the couch. April brings me a couple of ibuprofen and gives me a kiss on the cheek, whispering in my ear “It will be okay, we all love you” before she walks away. That was ominous and suddenly my heart is racing. Did something happen to Katherine? I quickly calm myself down because even if something had, they would have no clue about that.

  “Daniel, can you tell me what the hell happened last night?” Daniel is sitting on the table in front of me, anger flashing though his eyes, but it’s more than that—he’s hurt. Oh man, Vanessa must have told him her lies. That would explain his mood.

  “I don’t know how to say this so I’m just going to come out with it. You slept with Vanessa last night.”

  His words aren’t angry as he says them, just very sad. I feel like I’ve been sucker punched in the gut. That just isn’t possible. I would never, ever do that to him.

  “No…no, I didn’t. I was… Debbie and I…we hit it off. Why would you say that? I would never do that to you, Daniel. You’re my brother, she’s your girl. Shit, I can’t stand the bitch I wouldn’t DO THAT!”

  I close my eyes and wrack my brain, willing memories I don’t have to come. I can’t even picture her with me in the room. I don’t even know if I really fucked her, I just remember calling her name over and over. I wouldn’t have done that unless I had been having sex with her, though, otherwise that would have been weird.

  When I open my eyes again, Daniel’s crying and I know that even if I don’t remember last night I have somehow irrevocably changed our friendship. He and his family brought me into their world and loved me when I had nothing and I repaid him like this. I’m such a piece of shit.

  “Daniel, I’m so sorry, man.” I’m crying just as much as he is and choking over my words. “I never meant to hurt you. I would never. I’m just so fucking sorry. I’ll go grab my stuff and get out of here. I’ll head over to see your old man and resign. I don’t want you to have to be reminded of this at work.”

  Suddenly, I’m wrapped in his arms. We’re hugging and crying, and normally it would be a little uncomfortable, but at this moment it’s what we both need. I haven’t cried like this since my dad died. I’m just so unbelievably sorry.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Mike. We’re going to figure this out. I know you wouldn’t do this to me. Brothers over bitches, right?”

  “Right. But god, man, I’m just so sorry. I don’t even know…”

  “I know, so let’s piece it together. Tell me everything that happened last night. Start from the beginning.”

  So I do, but I start from the night we met Vanessa. I tell him everything. When I get to the part about what she said to me last night I can see his heart breaking even more. Even though I didn’t do it on purpose, I still feel an incredible amount of guilt. He loves her so much.

  “You know she’s not like that when we’re together. That’s what doesn’t make any sense. Yes, she has her moments where she’s demanding, but when it’s just the two of us, she’s sweet and caring. I just don’t get it.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, I really don’t. Connor’s seen her in action so you can confirm it with him if you need to. I don’t blame you for not trusting me right now.”

  “It’s true!” Connor yells from the kitchen, causing us both to laugh. I guess we forgot they were in there. The rooms aren’t exactly far apart and they’ve been listening the whole time, I’m sure of it.

  “Daniel, I need you to fill in the pieces of last night that I don’t remember. Maybe it will trigger something.”

  “Yeah, of course. Hey you guys, come in here and help me fill Mike in. There are pieces I wasn’t there for, either.”

  It’s moments like these that make me appreciate everything I have in my life. My amazing friends and their support means more to me than anything. It’s also moments like these that make me miss Katherine and Jessica the most. April sits next to me and holds my hand. I think back to the first day I met Jake and how intimidating he was to me. Now, April sitting next to me while she holds my hand doesn’t even make him flinch. Jake and I are just as close as Daniel and I are but in different ways. He knows how much I value his relationship with April. He knows I used to have something similar with someone and we talk about it. Well, we talk about it as much as I do with anyone else, which isn’t that much. I don’t think he feels like he can bounce relationship issues around with Daniel and Connor because they’ve never been there.

  Over the next hour, they fill me in on everything that happened last night. Debbie got really drunk really fast, too. They just thought she wasn’t used to drinking so Daniel and Vanessa put her in a cab home. I went upstairs by myself and crashed. Somewhere along the line, Vanessa snuck in and had sex with me, pretending to be Debbie. We can’t figure out the end game here. The only thing we can come up with is that she knew she was caught and that I was going to tell Daniel—which I was—and she had sex with me like she’d wanted to from the beginning.

  April agrees with me that it seems like she slipped something in my drink and Debbie’s. Vanessa was the one that took the tequila and the glasses outside when I got distracted so it would have been very easy for her to do it. Connor called Debbie and she’s fine this morning and she remembers everything, so it seems I’m the only one that was really affected. April wants me to go to the police, but we have no proof. Even if that was it, there were over a hundred people here last night. I could have picked up the wrong drink, although it’s doubtful. I’m fine, other than the mess I’ve caused. Or that she caused. What makes me sick is that I’m sure we didn’t use a condom. I desperately need to go take a shower and wash that tramp off of me. Daniel and I plan to go STD testing tomorrow and again in six months. This sucks
. I’ve never not used a condom except with Katherine and that’s how I wanted it to stay. This whole situation gives me the creeps just thinking about it.

  “What are you going to do, Daniel? Are you going to call her and confront her?” There’s so much compassion in April’s eyes when she asks him this question. Their relationship is a lot like mine was with Jessica, but April’s a lot calmer than Jessica would be. Jessica would be at Vanessa’s house right now giving her a beat down. Just picturing that makes my heart ache for my friend. I miss her.

  “No, I’m not. There’s no point. She knows what she did. If she has the balls to come try and explain it away I will, but unless that happens, it’s over. I sure know how to pick ‘em, don’t I? I’m sorry, guys. I had no idea she was so conniving. And to think, I almost had myself convinced that she could be the one. “

  “Daniel McCormick! Stop it right now. This was not your fault, and it wasn’t Mike’s fault, either. Vanessa must have some really deep issues to have played the two of you like this. I think it’s wise to stay far away from her. Usually, when people do something like this it’s because there’s a deeper hurt within them that they’re trying to run from. It’s just unfortunate she found you two to take the brunt of her issues. We’ll get past this, just give it some time.”

  Chapter 13

  Fallout

  IT’S BEEN TWO months since Daniel and Vanessa broke up. I left Connor’s house that day with my heavy heart, just hoping things would work out. I thought for sure Daniel would eventually get angry at me and blame me for what happened, but he never did. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone besides Katherine with a heart and soul as pure as his. Daniel’s love for his friends and family runs deep into the core of everything that makes him one of the best people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing and loving.