Chapter 27

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'Kat, wait up,' Joe called as he hurried out of the building after making a quickly worded apology to Clare for the abrupt end to their counselling session.

Katherine continued to stride ahead of him, making a beeline for his car. 'Give me your keys,' she demanded as she spun around with her hand outstretched.

'You've gotta be kidding,' he said with a mock laugh. He didn't like her driving his car at the best of times, she certainly wasn't going to when she was overwrought.

'I want to drive,' she insisted, and he ignored her unlocking the door and getting into the driver's seat. After a moment she got in next to him. 'I bet if it was Shannon asking you'd let her.'

He scoffed. 'Let Shannon drive my car?' He shook his head. 'Have you seen how she drives? Hell would...' The words died on his lips, he was joking about Shannon like they were all friends. He turned the engine over, trying to ignore the holes Kat was boring into his head.

'Obviously, I have no idea what Shannon's driving skills are like,' she said icily. 'And I don't want to hear your cutesy anecdotes about her.'

He turned the engine off again and turned to look at Katherine. 'But we do need to have a conversation about her. I mean, what happened back there? You storming out like that.'

Katherine looked away. 'I don't want to talk about it,' she said crossing her arms.

Joe let out a groan. 'I thought that was the whole point of going to counselling.'

'I wanted to focus on the future, not the past,' she said her jaw jutting out stubbornly. 'That exercise was totally futile.'

'I don't think it was,' Joe said quietly. Katherine had to face up to reality sometime.

'Well I found it counterproductive,' Kat said her voice rising. 'And I'd seriously question that woman's abilities so drop it already!'

Joe opened his mouth but was interrupted by the ringing of Kat's cell phone. She glanced at the screen and grimaced, terminating the call.

'Who was it?'

'Clare.'

'You should have taken the call.'

She glared at him, her lips pursed. 'I said I don't want to talk about it. Now, will you just drive me home because I'm getting an awful headache.' She rubbed her temple for good measure but he wasn't fooled. However, he switched the engine back on and they drove home in silence.

~~~

Joe got up late on Saturday morning despite Katherine loudly pottering about around the house. Partly he was tired since he'd been waiting until she was asleep most nights before going to bed, and sleeping on the couch if she wasn't. Partly he wanted to stay out of her way until she was willing to talk about their relationship properly. She couldn't keep stonewalling him forever.

'I'm going for a run Kat,' he shouted out, his hand on the front door handle.

'Wait, what?' she said sticking her head out of the living room, looking annoyed. 'I didn't even hear you get up.'

'I got up a while ago, you probably didn't hear me over the racket you were making.'

She opened her mouth to retaliate but then her lips formed a thin line. 'Fine, don't be too long.'

He made a non-committal response and headed out the door before she could come up with an objection. He set off at a slow pace his legs feeling heavy, he knew the lack of sleep was starting to affect him. The situation could not continue on, something had to give.

Half an hour in, he stopped at a park bench and sat down. Taking his phone out of his pocket he called Shannon, she couldn't keep avoiding him.

'Hello,' she answered her voice muffled.

'It's me.'

'God Joey,' she said sounding more alert. 'I've been working all night, can't you even let me sleep.' He couldn't miss the irritation in her voice.

'Sorry, I should have realised,' he said cursing himself. He knew she'd been on her way to work yesterday evening. 'Can I see you later?'

'Have you finished with Katherine?'

'Not yet, but at counselling yesterday-'

'Counselling! You guys are having counselling?'

Inwardly he groaned, he was making a complete mess of this. 'Shan, it's not how it sounds.'

She made an inaudible reply.

'What was that?'

'I'm tired,' she murmured. 'I can't talk about this right now.' She disconnected the call before he could say any more.

He cursed her under his breath, in her own way she was as stubborn as Katherine. Maybe they should be friends? He sat for a moment contemplating what to do. He was tempted to get a cab to Shannon's place and make her talk to him her but she was clearly tired, and he knew they'd only argue. He should go back home to Kat and have it out with her, that would be the sensible course of action, however, he called Donnie instead and arranged to meet up with him.

~~~

Donnie was taken aback by Joe's appearance when they met up for coffee. He had a shadow across his face, and he was definitely paler. Defeated was the word that sprung to Donnie's mind. 'Hey, what's up?'

Joe inhaled deeply. 'What isn't up?' He sat back slumping in his chair, his drink barely touched.

'Come on Joe, talk to me.'

Joe slowly exhaled. 'What am I gonna do? I came clean to Katherine and nothing's changed. The wedding's still going full steam ahead.'

Donnie jaw dropped in disbelief. 'Kat's forgiven you?' He was incredulous, surely Katherine wouldn't forgive him just like that?

'Yeah apparently so. Except I don't think she really has forgiven me, but she's adamant the wedding should go ahead and we can work it out later.'

Donnie shook his head trying to process what Joe was saying. It was totally insane. For a smart girl, Katherine sure was acting stupidly. How could she waltz down the aisle with the guy who'd just cheated on her?

'I guess you could work on things later,' Donnie said doubtfully. 'It's a hell of a risk to take though. If you get married and you can't fix it...'

'I don't think we can fix it,' Joe admitted. 'I don't want to marry her but how do I tell her that? After what I've done it would be like sticking the knife in and twisting it.'

Donnie couldn't believe what he was hearing. Yeah, Joe was basically a good guy, he didn't like to hurt people's feelings but this was absurd.

'Joe you can't marry her so she doesn't get upset! It's gonna be a thousand times worse once you are married and she realises you don't want to be with her.' God, he was being stupid, they all were.

'Yeah, I know that,' Joe said slowly. 'I keep trying to tell myself that once Shannon is out of my system we'll get back to how we were, back to when I did want to be with her....I think we could have a good life together but I think we'd be selling ourselves short.'

Donnie nodded, that was putting it mildly, to say the least. 'Deep down Katherine probably knows how you feel and she doesn't want to face up to it.' It was the only thing that made sense. 'You have to make her listen. You'll be making the biggest mistake of your life if you don't.'

'You don't think Shannon was the biggest mistake of my life?' Joe asked trying to joke a little.

'No I don't. Shannon wouldn't have come between you if you'd been as happy and in love with Kat as you said you were.' He had to force himself not to say, I told you so.

Joe nodded. 'If Shannon would just tell me she wants to be with me I think it would be the incentive I need to finish with Katherine properly.'

Donnie felt a surge of anger. 'Stop looking to the women in your life to solve your problems for you,' he snapped and Joe jumped back startled. 'You want Katherine to dump you so you don't have to make the decision, you want Shannon to hold your hand and give you a push. Come on Joe, man up!'

'Alright,' Joe said irritably. 'I'm weak, I'm a loser, I know it.'

Donnie gritted his teeth, trying to keep his anger in check. 'Just sort it out Joe, it's one conversation, that's all.'

~~~~

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