It Happens
"When I first saw you, I was afraid to talk to you.
When I first talked to you, I was afraid to like you.
When I first liked you, I was afraid to love you.
Now that I love you, I'm afraid to lose you."
Chapter 9
Katherine's POV
I spot the truck over in the far corner of the parking lot. It sticks out among the clown cars all city people seem to drive. "Kat, you are amazing," says Col, with a massive grin on his face.
"Well I keep telling people that but they don't believe me. Now move over I'm driving," he sighs and jumps over to the passenger side as I jump in and start the engine. "Can you grab the note pad and pen out of my bag?" I ask, leaving the parking lot.
"Okay," he says retrieving them from my bag, "now what?"
"Write down Becky Jones, spicy red head." I smile thinking about what adventures she's going to go on.
We make quick work of picking up the washer, dryer, freezer, dishwasher, king size mattress and bed side tables. We get to the mall at ten to twelve. "Kat," says Col quietly as we lean on the wall outside the main entrance to the mall.
"Yeah," I say looking away from the car park, over to him.
"You're going to be a good mum," he says sheepishly. "Paul's been worrying about you acting weird, and the way you said it in the car your heart stayed the same, not the littlest trace of a lie." I look at him blankly, not sure what to say. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone?"
"Thanks," I sigh.
"Does anyone else know?"
"Sam's the only other one, he guessed when I asked for all the patrol changes." He nods in understanding and we go back to watching the cars drive in and out. The first to arrive is Claire and Max.
"Col, what was that this morning?" asks Max punching Col playfully in the arm.
"Oh you saw nothing, you should have seen when I was doing 130 through red lights, in the middle of the city. Best fun I have ever had in my life."
"What did you do Kat?" ask Claire, more impressed then angry.
"Me?" I gasp, placing a hand over my heart. "I would never encourage lying to a man of the law, and having an underage driver break over fifteen laws in an hour. How could you accuse me of such a thing?"
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," she scoffs.
"Katherine!" I look over to see Emily, and she doesn't look too happy. "Please tell me that there was another truck in town that looks just like yours that was allowing a boy that looked just like Collin speed after a cop car and the text you sent was completely unrelated."
"If that will help you sleep at night, sure, go with that," I shrug.
"Remind me to never let you watch my kids alone," she mutters.
"Col!" I look up to see Kim has just stopped the car and Brandon is already out the door with a grin to match the other two boys. "Tell me that wasn't real man," he says when he reaches us.
"If you want me to lie to you I will," says Col nonchalantly.
"Are you crazy Kat?" asks Kim. "What if you were caught out, Paul would have a fit if you got thrown in jail."
"Trust me Kim, I have done that enough to know how to get out scot free."
"The only way that could have been any cooler was if the cop car was chasing you," says Max.
"Hey I gave him that option but he was too scared of getting caught," I say as Leah's truck roars into the parking lot. God she moves fast I think as she appears in front of me in moments.
"You have to teach me how to do that!" she exclaims.
"Oh come on Leah, give yourself some more credit. Hot thing like you, I could get you driving the cop car."
"No way, you're not that good," says Max.
"Come on let's get lunch, and if you don't believe I'm that good I think I have some photos left on my phone that would make you think differently." I shout lunch for them all. They're all wowed at my black card. We choose a large booth in the centre of the food court, the boys all grubbing out on burgers and fries like it's their last meal. The girls all get Chinese and I get a small cola, and it doesn't taste half bad.
"So did you guys get everything?" I ask, taking another small sip of my drink.
They all say yes and go through what they picked up, Claire and Max got two king single mattress, towels, blankets, 140-inch Ultra HD TV, three stereos, a three-screen computer, printer, cushions and pillows.
Kim and Brandon got bed frames, lamps, an office chair, a flat pack bookshelf, two flat pack dressers and a coffee table.
Leah got a dining table, dining chairs, four stools, and a flat pack desk. Her truck was packed and stacked.
Emily got a new microwave, a coffee maker, a toaster, pots, pans, plates, dishes, cups, cutlery, a block of knifes, baskets, an iron and an ironing board, coat hangers, a blender, plants, some artwork, and bathroom extras.
"So anyone have room for clothes shopping?" I ask and the boys all groan.
"Sure, if Max walks home," says Claire with a devilish smile.
"Hey!" apparently he takes offence to that comment.
"The front of my cab's empty," says Leah and adds, "for clothes, not the mutt!"
"We have a bit of room on the back seat, we had to lean the seats forward to fit it all but we can jam some bags in," says Kim with a shrug.
"Then let's go," I say, jumping up from my seat.
"This wasn't part of the deal, you said you just needed muscle," says Col slouching back in his chair.
"Yeah, to carry the bags," says Leah, and all the girls laugh, boys not so much.
