Kat

I can't fucking believe Trace sent a limo. Who the hell does he think he is?

He can't just disappear from my life for two and a half years and then send limos like he gives a shit. Because now, Laurel and Maddie are sitting in the back, refusing to get out and drinking champagne and Colin is standing in the yard with an expression on his face that is somewhere between worried and pissed.

"I didn't know about the limo," I say to him. He nods tersely.

"So Trace Gallant was just your neighbor, but he's going to all this trouble?" He looks to the house next door, as if it can provide him some explanation. "So what, your parents are still tight, or something?"

I sigh. "Not really. His parents moved, soon after he did."

Colin's expression does not ease. "So, what's going on, Kat? You and this guy were a thing?"

"We weren't a thing." It's not exactly a lie. A flirtation, one drunk interlude, and a few awkward exchanges after does not constitute a thing. "But, we were...friends, growing up. I've known Trace for as long as I can remember. He was in the same grade as my sister, Ashlynn."

Colin's expression eases a little, at my mention of Ashlynn. She's another sensitive subject, but he understands that one. "It's just weird, 'cause you've never said a word about him."

I shrug. "New girl in a new school? Bragging that you know a famous musician? That reads a little desperate, don't you think?"

He smiles. "Okay, yeah, I can see that. But you could have told me about him. I tell you pretty much everything, Kat. You know every girl I'm friends with." He looks wounded. I feel guilty.

"Because we aren't friends at all anymore," I assure Colin. I wave at the limo. "I'm sure this is nothing to him. Something he thought about for two seconds and told his assistant to handle. We don't keep in touch at all," I reiterate.

At that moment, my cell phone vibrates in my hand. I check it automatically and Colin and I both see Trace's name.

My heart momentarily stops. This is the last thing I expected. Maybe the first thing I hoped for when I saw the tickets last week, but the last thing I actually expected.

Colin makes a disgusted sound. When he speaks, his voice is low, like he's trying to control is anger. "Are you lying to me, Kat?"

"No! I...I haven't heard from him in two years. Really."

Colin shakes his head, a look of disbelief on his face.

"I swear," I say testily. I've never given Colin any reason to mistrust me, so his sudden flare of jealousy is getting old quick.

"Are you going to answer that?"

"No."

My thumb doesn't seem to want to move, but eventually I make it decline the call. Five seconds later, he calls again. Colin stares at the picture of Trace. It's an old one, but it's a very good picture of Trace playing his guitar in a band rehearsal—a picture I took the only time I went down to Athens one weekend, tagging along with Ashlynn, who was visiting some of her old high school friends that went there. I was barely fourteen—a high school freshman. Trace invited all of Ashlynn's friends to hang with the band and their friends. That was a great night—the first time I ever saw Soundcrush play. My first taste of college life, my first taste of beer. The first time Trace made me feel special—like special to him. There in a room full of college girls he could have been hooking up with, he was asking me how high school was going, and was actually interested to hear. When I reached for his red solo cup of beer and drank tentatively, he just chuckled. He switched my cup of soda for his beer casually, right beneath my uptight sister's nose. Later, when she smelled it on my breath, she berated him for fifteen minutes. He snuffed her scolding by offering all her friends tequila shots. They shouted her down and switched to team Trace.

Colin is watching me, and I realize I'm smiling at the picture on my phone. I try to order my face into a scowl.

"I don't know why he's calling," I say.

"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I do," Colin's voice is bitter.

"Col," I put a hand on his arm. "I already told the limo driver no thanks. I declined his call. Please...this is supposed to be a great night for us," I say through lowered lashes. I'm trying to be a good girlfriend, but I can't meet his eyes. On the inside, my heart is pounding and my stomach is churning. I can't think of Trace and Colin together. I feel like I'm going to explode.

The second call goes to VM. I still don't meet Colin's eyes.

But then he runs a hand through his cropped sandy hair and tries to calm down. Colin's a good guy; he really is.

"Look, if you say he's just an old friend, I believe you. We're good." He gives me a weak smile.

Trace calls for a third time.

"Fuck," Colin groans. "This guy doesn't give up, does he? Probably his ego needs a thank you. Just answer, and tell him thanks. Let's take his fucking limo and drink his goddamn booze. At least I don't have to be the DD now." Colin stalks off to the limo, his shoulders tense, but he accepts the glass of champagne Maddie offers him..

I answer the call, "What the fuck, Trace?" It just flies out of my mouth. I've been so angry with him for so long.

"I guess I deserve that," Trace's voice says calmly. "Which what-the-fuck, Katheryn?"

"What?" I'm taken off guard, both by his response and the smooth way he makes my full name sound so...intimate.

"I don't know which what-the-fuck you mean, Sweetheart," the voice I never thought I'd hear coming through my phone again is just as charming as ever. "Do you mean—what the fuck, why did you disappear on me? Or what the fuck are you on, thinking you have any right to call me after all this time? Or just...what the fuck, asshole—you are causing a problem with my boyfriend?"

"How do you know I have a boyfriend?" I ask.

"The limo driver says he looks pretty pissed." I glance at the driver. He's watching me, and speaking calmly into his phone.

"The driver is spying on me?" I exclaim.

"No, the driver is reporting to my assistant why he can't complete the job he was hired to do," Trace says evenly. "Now, back to the question."

"What makes you think I am answering your question?"

"Because you asked the question first."

"I did not."

"Yes, you did. I believe the question in question is 'What the fuck, Trace?'"

This whole conversation is crazy. I haven't spoken to Trace in two and a half years, and now we are verbally sparring just like old times. I bite back a smile.

"Well? What the fuck, Trace?"

"I ask again, which what the fuck did you mean?"

I consider. "All of the above."

"Okay," Trace takes a big breath. "I disappeared because I'm an idiot. I was afraid of making things worse between us. Recently, it occurred to me, it can't get worse than it is now, because we aren't even friends anymore. And that sucks, and I want to fix that, or at least try. And I know I have no right to just drop back into your life, but I'm afraid if I don't, I'm going to regret it forever. I really want to see you. I need to see you, Kat, but I can't explain it over the phone. So in answer to the second what the fuck, I'm on about two glasses of bourbon. I figure its slim odds that you are coming tonight and that has me torn up, and I need a drink so I can go play this fucking show. As for the third what-the-fuck...I should have figured you were coming with a boyfriend, and that you'd told him about us, and he'd take the limo like some kind of grand, romantic gesture. I'm really sorry, Kat. I sent the limo to make it a fun night for you and your friends, and to make sure you get here and back safe."

I don't know what to say. The sincerity in Trace's voice is evident. That's a whole lot of honesty smacking me in the face after two years of silence.

"I can't do this," I mutter into the phone. I really can't. I can't be friends with Trace. For so many reasons.

"Please, Kat" his voice is barely a whisper. "Please come. I really want to see you."

I don't say anything. I don't know what to say. Colin can't hear my conversation, but he is watching my face. I swing away, so he can't see me. Finally I whisper, "I want to see you, too."

Suddenly Trace is shouting. "THANK FUCK! GET IN THE GODDAMN LIMO!"

"Hey, don't yell at me!" I automatically snap. It's kind of a pet peeve of mine. Colin used to do that shit and I broke him of it real quick.

"Hey," he says, his voice suddenly gentle. "I'm not yelling at you."

"You were," I grumble back.

"Okay, I was yelling. But not at you. I'm used to loud crowds, big emotions. I'm kind of a rockstar, you know. WE YELL WHEN WE ARE EXCITED! I AM EXCITED I'M GOING TO SEE YOU IN FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, KATHERYN BALLARD!"

I grin at his enthusiasm. "If you're going to keep yelling, I'm not coming." Now I'm just giving him shit.

"Don't make me blow off this show and come to your house, " he says sternly. "Five thousand people will be really pissed off at you and me both. Not to mention the band, promoters, our management..."

"Fine! I'm getting in the goddamn limo, for the fans."

"Hurry," he murmurs, then adds, "The driver says your friends have already drunk five hundred dollars of champagne. You're definitely not a cheap date."

"This is not a date."

"I guess not, since you are bringing your boyfriend," he replies.

"Also because you didn't ask me to come."

"Yes I did. Moments ago. I even said please."

"Nope. Last minute begging doesn't count."

"I wasn't begging," Trace scoffs. "I made all these arrangements, then I asked to see you, and you agreed. Now that I think about it, if that's not a date, I don't know what is. It's really rude of you to bring your boyfriend on our date, you know."

"This is not a date. You had your assistant send the tickets, and the note, and the limo. Also it's not a date because I'm super pissed at you. Like, angrier-over-time-pissed. Like, I kinda hate you."

"I hear ya, but I have to say, the driver says you are standing there grinning like an idiot."

"He did not say that." I am grinning like a idiot, but I'm pretty sure Trace can tell by the sound of my voice. I can tell he's smiling too.

"Just get in the car, Kat."

I hang up on him, but I get in the limo.

Wow, what is Kat going to do? Trace is clearly giving her the flirt, and she's got a big night planned with Colin. How do you think it's going to turn out?

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