8

Bianca accosts me at the bottom of the stairs. Her raised brow is a perfect Kat replica, and I laugh when she crosses her arms and gives me the stare.

"What?" I say with feigned innocence.

"You took care of her, right? Because otherwise, I may have to hurt you."

"Don't sweat it. She's sleeping like a baby."

"Still...not...convinced."

I hold up my hands. "Nothing happened. Scout's honor."

That raises a dainty snort. "Kat didn't do anything stupid, did she?"

Like strip her clothes off and make several passes at me? Not a chance. "Naw, I kept her in line."

Her tensed shoulders relax. "Thanks for coming over. I was kind of worried."

"Don't be. I'm pretty sure she won't be doing any swan dives off the roof."

"That's so reassuring," Bianca grabs my bicep with a grip that rivals Wally. She takes me to one side and stares at the chaos of Padua's finest destroying her house. "What happens if she rejoins the party?"

"Throw away the booze and make a pot of your strongest coffee," I advise. "Trust me, she'll need it when she wakes up."

******

I wake up at 7 to get ready for work and there's an e-mail waiting for me.

You were right. Kat only slept for an hour and practically fell down the stairs. I got her to drink coffee, but she decorated the carpets with a lovely shade of brown. And it seems that someone used a Sharpie and wrote all over her arm. You know anything about that? Anyway, thanks.

The Sharpie makes me smile at the thought of Miss Manners on the day of the Filthy Souls concert. I thought I was getting her number, and she left me with Manners scrawled all over my arm. I didn't wash that spot for at least a day, for reasons I'm still not ready to think about.

I type a reply into my phone:

How did you get this address?

Hello, Kat's phone?

Is she OK?

Grumpy, but alive.

Sounds like normal to me.

She doesn't remember anything.

I thought about typing 'Good thing', but that would raise more questions.

Too bad. It was a fun time.

The kiss and Kat's unexpected display were candy. The rest was your typical crappy, teenage party. She finally responds with:

FYI, Kat and I are grounded for the next century.

Sorry. Gotta jet.

The phone stays thankfully silent and I shove it in my pocket on my way downstairs. I'm due at Job #1 where I help repair cars, then off to Job #2 at Rachel's book store. It will be a long, boring day, alleviated only by my silent mocking of the customers that cross my path. But given the events of yesterday, there is also a lot to appreciate…and savor.

I'm thinking Monday morning will be choice, especially the look on Kat's face when she finally catches up with me. Even better, this time she will be the one groveling.

Let's face it, a little humility never hurt anyone. And Kat is so high on her pedestal that knocking her down a peg or two brings her right to my level. I can deal with that.