Chapter 24 - Facing some Home Truths
"Hey Bri. How's things?" She asked Brian as she walked in the door.
"Good, how's the MX-6?"
"If I ever drive another so called normal car again it'll be too soon. I stalled it out in the garage in front of Vince, Jesse, Letty, Leon and Dom. I'm not use to shifting with my right hand anymore. It was totally embarrassing."
"Leon did that the last time he had to move my supra so don't worry about it too much!" Brian laughed.
"Ha! Leon told me already. He was standing by the car when I did it." Kat smirked at having taken away Brian's advantage of knowing something about Leon she didn't know.
"I know he told you because Mia called to tell me the two of you pulled a disappearing act into the storeroom and didn't even turn on the lights. Then he bent you over backwards in front of the whole team kissing you in the garage."
Kat blushed. "Yeah, well, I guess I did somethin' right cause I have a date tonight Brian. So there."
"You and Leon are goin' on a date?"
"Yeah. What'd ya think? I was just kissin' him for fun."
"Well, yeah. Isn't kissing him fun?" Brian gave her the killer smile.
"Well, I don't know if it's fun. It's certainly interesting, and nice, but I don't know if it's fun."
"Oh, it'll get fun later." Brian winked at her. She caught on to what he was hinting at.
"BRRRIIIIIIAAAAAANNNNNN. Why you always teasin' me?"
"Cause its fun. You wanna run a load of parts out to the Mobil on Hawthorne?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"It's in the truck, have fun." With that Kat hoped in the truck and delivered the parts.
She left work early to go get ready. She had no idea what to wear. She didn't think to ask Leon where he was taking her. She'd have to try for somewhere between dressy and casual. First she showered and did her hair. She made it as straight and smooth as she could get it and on impulse grabbed scissors and hacked the bottom 6 inches off to get rid of the purple. She was sick of it. She felt as if she had grown beyond it somehow. That was a tie back to the old, young, immature Kat. She did her makeup and went to pick an outfit. One thing she had to say about spending more time around Leon was he made her self conscious about how she dressed. She felt like she was dressing like some sort of little teeny bopper or racer chaser in her own everyday clothes around him. He didn't tell her that, but she did dress a lot like the race skanks at Leon's races did. She dressed conservatively for her own races in the same clothes that branded her as a skank around his. Leon had never, ever, given her any reason to feel he thought she was easy or a skank but just seeing how the other girls on his team dressed made her think she didn't wear enough.
She stood in front of her open closet staring in not seeing anything. It was far too late to go shopping. She couldn't wear jeans cause she didn't know where they were going. She pulled a dress she hadn't worn since she was 15 out of the back of the closet. The style was simple; it was made of a silky black material and skimmed her body in the right places without looking painted on. It was something her mom had bought her for one of her dance recitals, for after her performance. It had spaghetti straps that crossed in the back, which was low cut, but not too low, it stopped just above the small of her back. Her tiger peaked out occasionally but was mostly hidden. The neckline was heart shaped and not too low. The length had been to her knees at 14 when the dress was bought but was now about 3 inches above them. With her hair down long all around her she thought she looked classy, adult. She hoped so.
*Flashback*
"You look like such a little lady Katherine." Her mother beamed at her. "And you danced like an Angel. You are going to be a Prima Ballerina someday. You'll be better then I've ever been." Kat had just finished a recital in which she'd had a major part.
"Don't be silly Mama, you're the prettiest, best dancer ever. I'll never be as good as you. You're the prettiest Prima Ballerina ever." Kat hugged her mama.
"That's not true. You looked like a fairy princess out there tonight Kat, if you practice you'll go far with dance. After all you are descended from a long line of beautiful ballerinas." Her mama had smiled then shoed her off to go mingle. She got many compliments on both her performance and on her beautiful dress, to which she always said her mama had picked it for her, and that her mama helped her practice her dance at home.
Her mama was Russian and the females of their family had all been involved in dance. Kat wasn't sure if she wanted to make it her life. She liked to dance, to feel graceful and feminine but she didn't know if she had it in her to make dance her life the way her mama had. Her mama hadn't really been allowed to have Kat, but she got pregnant by her husband and refused to not have her child. Really she was in violation of her contract but her company liked her so much and she was so good they'd looked the other way, and her mama had gotten her figure right back.
Her mama loved her so much and had been so proud of her, both while she preformed and afterward as she acted with class and grace mingling with the crowd in her new black dress. She'd felt so grown up, even if she was only 14. Her mom had been killed soon after, and the dress had held too many memories to wear it, but she hadn't been able to part with it either. So she'd been sure to pack it when she ran.
*end flashback*
She went downstairs and got strange looks from the guys. "Where did that dress come from?" Sean asked.
"Yeah, and when did that become your style?" Stacy added.
"I've had it for years, since before you guys even knew me. And it's not my style but I'm goin' out tonight." Kat was nervous and her New York accent was showing a bit.
"Goin' out with wit' the skinny white boy?" Kale asked.
"If by that you mean Leon, then yeah. He's far from skinny. He's wiry." Kat used Leon's own adjective and laughed. "Besides he's about the same size as you Kale." Kale had the decency to look chagrined when she pointed that out. "And even besides that I thought you guys liked him."
"We do. We just hope that he's got the best in mind for you Kat. And that you don't get hurt over this whole thing. I know I told you you can't help who you fall for, but damn Kitten. If he finds out."
"Stop right there." She cut Sean off. "Sean, I love you. I love all three of you guys. But we don't talk about that ever again. It never happened. If he doesn't know yet then he's never gonna. And we're keepin' it that way. If you talk about it then there's every chance a'getting overheard. So forget it ever happened. The old bad boys did that. Not us."
"Ok, ok. Just don't say that I didn't warn you Kitten. I do this stuff for your own good. I think the shits really gonna hit the fan if the thing we don't talk about ever gets out." Sean frowned. He just wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her forever the way she was before Leon. But then again the way she was before Leon was not the way she always was. She'd been changed by what she'd seen in the gang, but she reverted right back to the way she was at 14 when they'd left and Sean tried not to think about what'd she had seen.
He didn't want to see her grow up. This woman was not his Kitten. She was Kat. Sean wanted her to stay cute, spunky, attitude filled, innocent Kitten for ever. He knew that her and Leon were gonna end up together in every sense of the word. He knew that was the natural evolution of Kat's life, but he didn't have to like it. She was only 19, a very young 19 in a lot of ways. That was their fault. She hadn't had to deal with normal teenage things or live a normal teenage life. The things she'd seen and done should have jaded her or made her hard. At the very least she should be more world weary then she was, she should be more then grown up, should be old for her age. But she was still so very innocent that it made Sean scared for her every time she was out in the world without him. Sean was her champion and he didn't know if he was willing or ready to turn that job over to Leon, to anyone. Didn't know if Leon even wanted the role or knew what he was getting himself into. Kat needed to be protected from herself in a lot of ways. She didn't trust a lot. Didn't know when to ask for help, admit she couldn't do something. Someone had to be around to help her without letting her know, or to try to slow her down. Sean found himself wondering if they'd given her the skills to cope if she ever really had to. Or would she fall to pieces in times of great hardship because she'd never learned to deal?
There was nothing else to do but let the cub out into the world and see if she could hunt, survive, defend herself. But she could know that she had her pack to fall back on in rough times too. It was hard for Sean because he knew that if Leon found out about what they'd done and refused to have anything to do with Kat because of it there was nothing any of them could do. It would be hard to blame the man. But Leon knew Kitten and the rest of them had been gangster. He had to know they'd done stuff they wouldn't be proud of. But if he found out what they'd done to him would whatever he felt for Kitten be stronger then the anger he'd be bound to feel?
All he could do was hope they never had to answer that. Because Sean hoped the day that Leon figured this whole thing out never came. But Sean had been around too long and seen too much to figure that was at all likely. Leon was gonna figure it out, Sean had a feeling, and Sean didn't know the other man well enough to know if he'd forgive them or not. Sean could only hope that the addictiveness of having Kat in one's life was enough to ensure that Leon did forgive her if the day ever came that he guessed. Of course the guys would all take the bullet for her too, if Leon would let them, say it was all their idea and Kitten just went along. It was all speculation, everything might turn out fine. Sean didn't have a crystal ball, so he could only hope for the best. But his gut told him he should also prepare himself and the guys to support Kitten in the event of the worst.
"Well Sean, saying 'the thing we don't talk about' is talking about it. So put it in the past boy. That's where it belongs." Kat sat down on the couch to wait for Leon. She knew something deep was going on in Sean's head but she didn't know what. Didn't want to know right now. She wanted to enjoy her night out and she couldn't do that if she knew that she had in some way caused Sean to be upset.
"Kitten, sometimes you live in some sort of fucken' fairytale world you know? Not talkin' 'bout it doesn't make it go away." Stacy frowned. "I'm not tryin ta be mean but Damn girl, you gotta be prepared for what'll happen if he does figure it out. I hope he doesn't but if you're not ready for that time if it ever comes then you'll only be hurt worse. Sometimes you're so fucken' naïve." Stacy hated himself for the hurt look that flashed across her face. They never talked that harshly to Kat. Maybe that was half the problem. She recovered quickly.
"Stacy, I really, really thank you for being so concerned for me. I really do. But if I let myself think about it then I'll spend the whole time I'm with him worrying about not saying anything that could possible let on to him. And I can't live like that. I like this guy. A lot." Kitten smiled at the guys in what she hoped was a reassuring way. "It's gonna be fine. And I know that I can be stupid by times."
"I never said stupid, I said naïve. I just want you to think about what'll happen if he should ever find out. We all hope it never happens but hoping doesn't always make stuff happen."
"I know that guys." She was still smarting over Stacy talking to her like that. They were never harsh with her. She wasn't use to it and she was fighting back tears as she thought about it.
The doorbell rang. "Ok, well, that'll be him. See you all tomorrow." She said firmly to let them know there was every chance she wouldn't be coming home that night. She opened the door and there was Leon, dressed up more then she'd ever seen him. He was wearing a white collared shirt open at the throat and black casual pants. She was glad she picked out the dress she did.
"Wow, you look awesome." Leon breathed out. This was not the Kat he'd come to know. He felt almost inadequate next to this woman. This was not a racer chick, this was a beautiful woman and Leon worried in that moment that he wasn't good enough for her.
"You're looken' pretty good yourself, though I liked your outfit at the garage today better." Kat admitted then blushed.
That put Leon right at ease with her. She was still the same Kat that fought Dom, worked selling parts for Harry, and raced her car with crazy skill. In short if she'd been a sophisticated woman she would be out of his league, but she was just his Kitten in a dress. It was just a costume on her just like these clothes were a costume on him. It was nice to play dress up for the night but underneath they were still the crazy car type who didn't normally wear anything that a little grease would hurt.
"Well, thanks. You ready?" Leon held out a hand to her.
"I'm very ready. Let's go. So where are you taken' me?" The guys heard as they walked down the walk and out to Leon's freshly washed, waxed and, miracle of miracles, interior detailed, Skyline. Kale watched out the living room window as Leon walked Kat down the driveway to his car and helped her into the passenger side.
"This guy does really like her you know." Kale stated more then asked.
"I know. But does he like her enough to over look what she did, does he like her enough to look past the fact that while she did it to him, it wasn't about him, and she didn't mean to hurt him? Does he think he could love her someday? Or does he think she's a good time for now?" Sean sighed. "If I told you guys I wasn't scared a'her being wit this guy I'd be lying. I just don't know if he's into Kitten, or into the image that Kitten portrays. So many people see her as the good time girl, who's always happy and ready for anything, one of the guys who happens to be a girl. What happens when he sees Kitten in a bad mood, Kitten depressed?" Sean sighed again and sat down.
"I just don't know Dawg, I really don't." Stacy answered. He was worried too, but they'd already over protected Kitten, it was time to let her go and make her own mistakes. "It's time to let Kitten make her own mistakes and learn from 'em guys. There's no way around that." That was deep for Stacy. But he was right. Sean and Kale nodded.
The guys decided to go visit Connor and the crew for the night to work some of the melancholy off with some beer and loud, good natured male camaraderie.
Leon sped off to the restaurant he was taking Kat to. He hoped she liked Italian food. It was what Leon knew and a family friend owned this place. They pulled up and he parked the car. He ran around to help Kat out of the car and she smiled up at him. She felt like a lady for the first time in her recent life. No one treated her like this normally. It was nice, for a change. She knew it went with the front she was putting on tonight. Racer Kat would be outa her mind if anyone treated her like this for too long. But dressed up ladylike Kat was liking it in the small dose she was going to be getting it. Leon held the door of the place open for her and even pulled out her chair. They ordered and as they waited Leon started to question her.
"You cut your hair. Why?"
"I got sicka the purple. You like it like this?"
"Sure, it's still as long pretty well, I liked it before too. It looks more adult. I almost figured you were too good for me when I went to pick you up. You look so good."
"If anything you're too good for me Leon." Kat looked so serious, Leon didn't get it. He tried to put her at ease.
"Well, we're both fine for each other in our real clothes, so I guess we're both fine for each other in our dress clothes too."
"Good way to put it." She laughed. "You are like the king of tact." He decided to ask her some deep questions next.
"Hey Bri. How's things?" She asked Brian as she walked in the door.
"Good, how's the MX-6?"
"If I ever drive another so called normal car again it'll be too soon. I stalled it out in the garage in front of Vince, Jesse, Letty, Leon and Dom. I'm not use to shifting with my right hand anymore. It was totally embarrassing."
"Leon did that the last time he had to move my supra so don't worry about it too much!" Brian laughed.
"Ha! Leon told me already. He was standing by the car when I did it." Kat smirked at having taken away Brian's advantage of knowing something about Leon she didn't know.
"I know he told you because Mia called to tell me the two of you pulled a disappearing act into the storeroom and didn't even turn on the lights. Then he bent you over backwards in front of the whole team kissing you in the garage."
Kat blushed. "Yeah, well, I guess I did somethin' right cause I have a date tonight Brian. So there."
"You and Leon are goin' on a date?"
"Yeah. What'd ya think? I was just kissin' him for fun."
"Well, yeah. Isn't kissing him fun?" Brian gave her the killer smile.
"Well, I don't know if it's fun. It's certainly interesting, and nice, but I don't know if it's fun."
"Oh, it'll get fun later." Brian winked at her. She caught on to what he was hinting at.
"BRRRIIIIIIAAAAAANNNNNN. Why you always teasin' me?"
"Cause its fun. You wanna run a load of parts out to the Mobil on Hawthorne?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"It's in the truck, have fun." With that Kat hoped in the truck and delivered the parts.
She left work early to go get ready. She had no idea what to wear. She didn't think to ask Leon where he was taking her. She'd have to try for somewhere between dressy and casual. First she showered and did her hair. She made it as straight and smooth as she could get it and on impulse grabbed scissors and hacked the bottom 6 inches off to get rid of the purple. She was sick of it. She felt as if she had grown beyond it somehow. That was a tie back to the old, young, immature Kat. She did her makeup and went to pick an outfit. One thing she had to say about spending more time around Leon was he made her self conscious about how she dressed. She felt like she was dressing like some sort of little teeny bopper or racer chaser in her own everyday clothes around him. He didn't tell her that, but she did dress a lot like the race skanks at Leon's races did. She dressed conservatively for her own races in the same clothes that branded her as a skank around his. Leon had never, ever, given her any reason to feel he thought she was easy or a skank but just seeing how the other girls on his team dressed made her think she didn't wear enough.
She stood in front of her open closet staring in not seeing anything. It was far too late to go shopping. She couldn't wear jeans cause she didn't know where they were going. She pulled a dress she hadn't worn since she was 15 out of the back of the closet. The style was simple; it was made of a silky black material and skimmed her body in the right places without looking painted on. It was something her mom had bought her for one of her dance recitals, for after her performance. It had spaghetti straps that crossed in the back, which was low cut, but not too low, it stopped just above the small of her back. Her tiger peaked out occasionally but was mostly hidden. The neckline was heart shaped and not too low. The length had been to her knees at 14 when the dress was bought but was now about 3 inches above them. With her hair down long all around her she thought she looked classy, adult. She hoped so.
*Flashback*
"You look like such a little lady Katherine." Her mother beamed at her. "And you danced like an Angel. You are going to be a Prima Ballerina someday. You'll be better then I've ever been." Kat had just finished a recital in which she'd had a major part.
"Don't be silly Mama, you're the prettiest, best dancer ever. I'll never be as good as you. You're the prettiest Prima Ballerina ever." Kat hugged her mama.
"That's not true. You looked like a fairy princess out there tonight Kat, if you practice you'll go far with dance. After all you are descended from a long line of beautiful ballerinas." Her mama had smiled then shoed her off to go mingle. She got many compliments on both her performance and on her beautiful dress, to which she always said her mama had picked it for her, and that her mama helped her practice her dance at home.
Her mama was Russian and the females of their family had all been involved in dance. Kat wasn't sure if she wanted to make it her life. She liked to dance, to feel graceful and feminine but she didn't know if she had it in her to make dance her life the way her mama had. Her mama hadn't really been allowed to have Kat, but she got pregnant by her husband and refused to not have her child. Really she was in violation of her contract but her company liked her so much and she was so good they'd looked the other way, and her mama had gotten her figure right back.
Her mama loved her so much and had been so proud of her, both while she preformed and afterward as she acted with class and grace mingling with the crowd in her new black dress. She'd felt so grown up, even if she was only 14. Her mom had been killed soon after, and the dress had held too many memories to wear it, but she hadn't been able to part with it either. So she'd been sure to pack it when she ran.
*end flashback*
She went downstairs and got strange looks from the guys. "Where did that dress come from?" Sean asked.
"Yeah, and when did that become your style?" Stacy added.
"I've had it for years, since before you guys even knew me. And it's not my style but I'm goin' out tonight." Kat was nervous and her New York accent was showing a bit.
"Goin' out with wit' the skinny white boy?" Kale asked.
"If by that you mean Leon, then yeah. He's far from skinny. He's wiry." Kat used Leon's own adjective and laughed. "Besides he's about the same size as you Kale." Kale had the decency to look chagrined when she pointed that out. "And even besides that I thought you guys liked him."
"We do. We just hope that he's got the best in mind for you Kat. And that you don't get hurt over this whole thing. I know I told you you can't help who you fall for, but damn Kitten. If he finds out."
"Stop right there." She cut Sean off. "Sean, I love you. I love all three of you guys. But we don't talk about that ever again. It never happened. If he doesn't know yet then he's never gonna. And we're keepin' it that way. If you talk about it then there's every chance a'getting overheard. So forget it ever happened. The old bad boys did that. Not us."
"Ok, ok. Just don't say that I didn't warn you Kitten. I do this stuff for your own good. I think the shits really gonna hit the fan if the thing we don't talk about ever gets out." Sean frowned. He just wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her forever the way she was before Leon. But then again the way she was before Leon was not the way she always was. She'd been changed by what she'd seen in the gang, but she reverted right back to the way she was at 14 when they'd left and Sean tried not to think about what'd she had seen.
He didn't want to see her grow up. This woman was not his Kitten. She was Kat. Sean wanted her to stay cute, spunky, attitude filled, innocent Kitten for ever. He knew that her and Leon were gonna end up together in every sense of the word. He knew that was the natural evolution of Kat's life, but he didn't have to like it. She was only 19, a very young 19 in a lot of ways. That was their fault. She hadn't had to deal with normal teenage things or live a normal teenage life. The things she'd seen and done should have jaded her or made her hard. At the very least she should be more world weary then she was, she should be more then grown up, should be old for her age. But she was still so very innocent that it made Sean scared for her every time she was out in the world without him. Sean was her champion and he didn't know if he was willing or ready to turn that job over to Leon, to anyone. Didn't know if Leon even wanted the role or knew what he was getting himself into. Kat needed to be protected from herself in a lot of ways. She didn't trust a lot. Didn't know when to ask for help, admit she couldn't do something. Someone had to be around to help her without letting her know, or to try to slow her down. Sean found himself wondering if they'd given her the skills to cope if she ever really had to. Or would she fall to pieces in times of great hardship because she'd never learned to deal?
There was nothing else to do but let the cub out into the world and see if she could hunt, survive, defend herself. But she could know that she had her pack to fall back on in rough times too. It was hard for Sean because he knew that if Leon found out about what they'd done and refused to have anything to do with Kat because of it there was nothing any of them could do. It would be hard to blame the man. But Leon knew Kitten and the rest of them had been gangster. He had to know they'd done stuff they wouldn't be proud of. But if he found out what they'd done to him would whatever he felt for Kitten be stronger then the anger he'd be bound to feel?
All he could do was hope they never had to answer that. Because Sean hoped the day that Leon figured this whole thing out never came. But Sean had been around too long and seen too much to figure that was at all likely. Leon was gonna figure it out, Sean had a feeling, and Sean didn't know the other man well enough to know if he'd forgive them or not. Sean could only hope that the addictiveness of having Kat in one's life was enough to ensure that Leon did forgive her if the day ever came that he guessed. Of course the guys would all take the bullet for her too, if Leon would let them, say it was all their idea and Kitten just went along. It was all speculation, everything might turn out fine. Sean didn't have a crystal ball, so he could only hope for the best. But his gut told him he should also prepare himself and the guys to support Kitten in the event of the worst.
"Well Sean, saying 'the thing we don't talk about' is talking about it. So put it in the past boy. That's where it belongs." Kat sat down on the couch to wait for Leon. She knew something deep was going on in Sean's head but she didn't know what. Didn't want to know right now. She wanted to enjoy her night out and she couldn't do that if she knew that she had in some way caused Sean to be upset.
"Kitten, sometimes you live in some sort of fucken' fairytale world you know? Not talkin' 'bout it doesn't make it go away." Stacy frowned. "I'm not tryin ta be mean but Damn girl, you gotta be prepared for what'll happen if he does figure it out. I hope he doesn't but if you're not ready for that time if it ever comes then you'll only be hurt worse. Sometimes you're so fucken' naïve." Stacy hated himself for the hurt look that flashed across her face. They never talked that harshly to Kat. Maybe that was half the problem. She recovered quickly.
"Stacy, I really, really thank you for being so concerned for me. I really do. But if I let myself think about it then I'll spend the whole time I'm with him worrying about not saying anything that could possible let on to him. And I can't live like that. I like this guy. A lot." Kitten smiled at the guys in what she hoped was a reassuring way. "It's gonna be fine. And I know that I can be stupid by times."
"I never said stupid, I said naïve. I just want you to think about what'll happen if he should ever find out. We all hope it never happens but hoping doesn't always make stuff happen."
"I know that guys." She was still smarting over Stacy talking to her like that. They were never harsh with her. She wasn't use to it and she was fighting back tears as she thought about it.
The doorbell rang. "Ok, well, that'll be him. See you all tomorrow." She said firmly to let them know there was every chance she wouldn't be coming home that night. She opened the door and there was Leon, dressed up more then she'd ever seen him. He was wearing a white collared shirt open at the throat and black casual pants. She was glad she picked out the dress she did.
"Wow, you look awesome." Leon breathed out. This was not the Kat he'd come to know. He felt almost inadequate next to this woman. This was not a racer chick, this was a beautiful woman and Leon worried in that moment that he wasn't good enough for her.
"You're looken' pretty good yourself, though I liked your outfit at the garage today better." Kat admitted then blushed.
That put Leon right at ease with her. She was still the same Kat that fought Dom, worked selling parts for Harry, and raced her car with crazy skill. In short if she'd been a sophisticated woman she would be out of his league, but she was just his Kitten in a dress. It was just a costume on her just like these clothes were a costume on him. It was nice to play dress up for the night but underneath they were still the crazy car type who didn't normally wear anything that a little grease would hurt.
"Well, thanks. You ready?" Leon held out a hand to her.
"I'm very ready. Let's go. So where are you taken' me?" The guys heard as they walked down the walk and out to Leon's freshly washed, waxed and, miracle of miracles, interior detailed, Skyline. Kale watched out the living room window as Leon walked Kat down the driveway to his car and helped her into the passenger side.
"This guy does really like her you know." Kale stated more then asked.
"I know. But does he like her enough to over look what she did, does he like her enough to look past the fact that while she did it to him, it wasn't about him, and she didn't mean to hurt him? Does he think he could love her someday? Or does he think she's a good time for now?" Sean sighed. "If I told you guys I wasn't scared a'her being wit this guy I'd be lying. I just don't know if he's into Kitten, or into the image that Kitten portrays. So many people see her as the good time girl, who's always happy and ready for anything, one of the guys who happens to be a girl. What happens when he sees Kitten in a bad mood, Kitten depressed?" Sean sighed again and sat down.
"I just don't know Dawg, I really don't." Stacy answered. He was worried too, but they'd already over protected Kitten, it was time to let her go and make her own mistakes. "It's time to let Kitten make her own mistakes and learn from 'em guys. There's no way around that." That was deep for Stacy. But he was right. Sean and Kale nodded.
The guys decided to go visit Connor and the crew for the night to work some of the melancholy off with some beer and loud, good natured male camaraderie.
Leon sped off to the restaurant he was taking Kat to. He hoped she liked Italian food. It was what Leon knew and a family friend owned this place. They pulled up and he parked the car. He ran around to help Kat out of the car and she smiled up at him. She felt like a lady for the first time in her recent life. No one treated her like this normally. It was nice, for a change. She knew it went with the front she was putting on tonight. Racer Kat would be outa her mind if anyone treated her like this for too long. But dressed up ladylike Kat was liking it in the small dose she was going to be getting it. Leon held the door of the place open for her and even pulled out her chair. They ordered and as they waited Leon started to question her.
"You cut your hair. Why?"
"I got sicka the purple. You like it like this?"
"Sure, it's still as long pretty well, I liked it before too. It looks more adult. I almost figured you were too good for me when I went to pick you up. You look so good."
"If anything you're too good for me Leon." Kat looked so serious, Leon didn't get it. He tried to put her at ease.
"Well, we're both fine for each other in our real clothes, so I guess we're both fine for each other in our dress clothes too."
"Good way to put it." She laughed. "You are like the king of tact." He decided to ask her some deep questions next.