I would like to start off by saying I had no idea that anyone would want to read this story lol. Thank you so much! I am not the best writer and this is my first time ever writing a ff, but I hope to do Kanthony justice and have an enjoyable story for you. Here is Chapter 2! :)

Some people would describe the noise outside as "pitter patter," but to Kate, she would describe it as a batter. Kate hated storms, hence why she had her head buried under a pillow and a thick, weighted blanket covering her body. In the past, she would have described it as bearable, but she has gone soft. Before, she could tolerate this storm on her own. It would suck, but she could tolerate it. Now, she needed someone. Not just anyone, but Anthony Bridgerton. God she hated that man, more than she hated storms. Kate loathes the day she met the eldest Bridgerton sibling. She loathes the day she fell in love with Anthony Bridgerton.

flashback

Kate reluctantly followed Edwina into Twists & Turns as she had promised her. The establishment was busy, but nothing too crazy for a Friday night. As she scanned the room, her eyes stopped at the stage. She could not contain the laugh that came from her as she listened to a man slur the lyrics from Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive." She did not stop watching until she felt Edwina tug at her arm, leading her to the bar. "Hi, could I get a Cosmopolitan and what about you, Didi?" Kate makes eye contact with the bartender with a polite smile "a Sex on the Beach, please." Edwina raises an eyebrow, "Yes, a Cosmo and a Sex on the Beach. Thank you!" Edwina turns to her sister "A 'Sex on the Beach', huh? For a stuffy lawyer, I did not even know those words could come out of your mouth." Kate jabs her sister in the side, "First of all, I am not a 'stuffy lawyer.' Second of all, I am not a prude and it is just a drink." Edwina looks her up and down, "Whatever you say, but you would seem less stuffy if you got you some."

Kate rolls her eyes, but Edwina is right. She tries to remember when was the last time she got laid. That is already a sign that it has been awhile. She recalls the last time being with her ex, someone she had cut ties with six months ago. Maybe she does need a tune me up. At that moment, she spots movement at the other end of the bar. She sees two men, one dragging the other, and tries not to smile. She is sure that is how she looked with Edwina. The dragger is ordering drinks while the dragee is glaring at his phone. Before Kate can get lost in the glarer's handsomeness, she feels Edwina nudging her. "Are you even listening, Didi?" Kate looks to her sister, "Yes Bon, but repeat it because it is too loud in here."

After allowing her younger sister to convince her to perform with her, Kate downed her drink and ordered a shot. If she was going to perform in front of an audience, she needed as much liquid courage as she could get. Soon, "the Sharma Sisters" were called on stage. Edwina had agreed to take the lead so Kate could get comfortable on stage. Seeing how serious she was while performing made Kate giggle. Had she known her sister was so serious about karaoke, she would have encouraged her to pursue a career in music. The smile on Kate's face was as wide as a cheshire cat. This smile remained on her face as she started rapping Mel B's verse on "Wannabe." As the crowd roared with applause, Kate embraced her younger sister. "Now was that too hard, Didi?" says Edwina cheesing. "It wasn't, Bon. Thank you for bullying me into doing it." responds Kate. "That's what younger siblings are for, Katie"

Once they returned to their seats, everything went back to how it was prior to their performance. Well, almost everything. Kate felt a pair of eyes staring at her. When she turns, she is met with the most beautiful brown eyes. The eyes belonging to the handsome man she had been staring at earlier. He smiles and raises his drink towards her. She nods at him and does the same with her shot glass before taking it to the head. Anthony is stunned and the smile on his face is a reflection of it. Kate winks and shifts her focus back to her sister who is speaking to a classmate that was praising their performance.

Anthony felt drawn to her. He was moving on autopilot as he tapped Benedict and muttered "come on, brother." Before Benedict could figure out what was happening with his older brother, Anthony was moving to the other side of the bar. Rushing to catch up with his brother, he sees the beauty that caught his brother's eye and grins. Approaching the ladies, Benedict buts in before Anthony has a chance to speak. "Hello ladies, a stellar performance you had! I am Benedict, and this is my older brother Anthony." says Benedict as he smiles at the Sharma sisters. Anthony cannot take his eyes off Kate and the act was reciprocated. Edwina smiles at Benedict and responds "Thank you, kindly! I am Edwina, and this is my older sister Kate." There is a feeling, a mutual feeling, of interest and lust between the oldest Sharma sibling and the oldest Bridgerton sibling. Attempting to break the intense staring contests between the older duo, Edwina cracks a joke directed towards Benedict. "After seeing Benedict Cumberbatch and now meeting you, I think there are prerequisites for those who share your name." Benedict raises an eyebrow, "and what would that be? Handsome men with blue eyes and wavy hair?" Edwina smiles at him and cheeringly yells "precisely!" Benedict shrugs, "I'll take it."

Sensing that their banter has no audience, the two younger siblings look to their elders. Kate and Anthony's staring has continued to go on, but they have moved closer. One would think they were lovers by how comfortable they seemed around one another. Feeling as if they're intruding in a private moment, Benedict and Edwina look at each other having a quick silent conversation with their eyes before nodding to one another. Benedict taps his brother, "Ant, I am going to teach Edwina how to play pool." This breaks the staring contest between Kate and Anthony as they try to get back into the present. Noting how close they were, Kate pushes her chair back, putting space between her Anthony. "That sounds fun, Bon! I am just going to order another drink." Smiling at her sister, Edwina sticks her arm out to Benedict, "Lead the way, Benny" Benedict loops his arm arounds hers, "My pleasure, Eddie!" The familiarity between the two has the older siblings confused. Anthony shifts his focus to the beautiful woman next to him, "When did those two get close?" Hearing his older brother's question, Benedict yells over his shoulder "While you were making googly eyes at Kate!" and continues leading Edwina to the pool table. Anthony shoots daggers at his younger brother's comment but all Kate can do is blush.

Kate waves down a bartender, "Can I get another Sex on the Beach please?" The bartender smiles and makes her the drink. Being scared of having another accidental staring contest, especially after ordering that drink, Kate stares at the ceiling and taps her fingers lightly against the countertop. Anthony can't help but stare. She is stunning even when she is attempting to avoid him. He thinks its cute and he likes that the feeling between them is mutual, regardless if Kate is attempting to seem unaffected. After what feels like forever to Kate, but was truly just a few minutes, the bartender returns with her drink. Kate happily accepts it and gives him an excited "thank you," while Anthony catches his attention and tells him to put the drink on his tab. Hearing this, Kate raises her eyebrow, "You buy drinks for every pretty lady you meet at a bar?" A very amused Anthony adjusts his body so he is facing Kate completely, "Only a lady as beautiful as you."

"Quite the charmer, Bridgerton." Kate says with a smirk.

"No charm added, I only speak the truth."

"Ah, I bet that line works for you every time."

"It is not a line, I have only said this to you."

"Sure, Jan."

"I am unsure on why you think I am lying, I am an honest man." says a confused Anthony.

"I am not out of the loop, Anthony. I see what they say about you online." answers Kate.

"So you believe gossip blogs and already have an impression on me?"

Not answering his question, Kate asks him one of her own "Why don't you talk to another lady in the bar. I am sure many of them would be elated to spend an evening with you."

"Because I know what I want."

"And that is?"

"You." answers Anthony with such conviction that Kate feels all the air leave her lungs. Before she has a chance to respond, Anthony continues "I want you, Kate Sharma. Not to sleep with but to get to know you. There is just something about you that draws me in. I am pulled to you and I know you feel the same. You did not waver when I stared into your eyes because you could not look away either. Let me get to know you, Kate. Let us explore this feeling." A stunned Kate finally catches her breath, and all she can say is "okay."

That was the biggest mistake that Kate has ever made. Just as she starts to get angry at the memory, the thunder crashing outside makes her groan. She is convinced that being in this bed will do nothing for. With a huff, she kicks off her blanket and pulls out a pair of leggings and a sports bra from her drawers. Hopefully a workout with loud music blaring from her headphones can drown out the storm outside and the storm brewing in her heart.

I hope you all enjoy this update! I was going to expand more on Kanthony's first encounter in this chapter, but this chapter is already pretty lengthy. Updates should occur more frequently in the future! Thank you again for taking the time out to read this and I hope you all enjoy. See you next update!