"Mom is the cop gonna die?" Oliver said slowly.
"No baby, he's just hurt from his accident that's all." She replied.
After dropping Oliver off at school she rushed to work and only ended up being 10 minutes late but her boss didn't really care.
"Morning Kate." Ino said cheerily from behind a floral arrangement. "You look stressed, everything okay?"
"Yes," She automatically said. "Well no. I met one of my neighbors last night and he's a bear. He's really annoying and he makes me want to slap him. Too Tony called again last night on my way home."
"Your neighbors is hot isn't he?" Ino smiled knowingly. "I can just tell by how you said it. You think he's hot. And what did Oli's sperm donor want this time?"
"Tony wants to meet Oliver. I don't want him to. Tony left us when he found out I was pregnant. I have no clue what he's been doing with his life, or if he's a suitable guy to be around a child. He was pretty much a loser when I met him. We weren't together but more than a few months. He told me he wanted nothing to do with me and 'the brat' when he left. I'm not even sure how he found me."
"Honey, you don't have to rush this. If Tony steps up to the plate and proves himself then give him a chance but until he does that you don't have to do anything. I'll ask Sai about the laws when I get home tonight and make sure there's nothing too crazy that will be sprung on you."
"Last night Tony threatened to take me to court to prove paternity and get custody of Oliver. I don't have the money to fight him on that. I'm a single mom with nothing going for her. I'm not educated, or rich." Kate replied beginning to feel hopeless.
"Look Friday night me and Sai are going out with our friends. Come with us. You need a break. Have someone watch Oliver overnight and let us treat you to a good time. Sai and I kind of owe you, you've been a business saver lately."
"I don't know if I can get anyone to watch him." Kate said trying to get out of the outing.
"Don't give me that." Ino said sternly.
After that they worked together chatting the whole time and by the time she got home she was in a better mood and there had been no more contact from Oliver's dad which made her feel better. Unfortunately her ex had money. She was never sure how he got his money or what he did but he had enough to take her to court and get custody and that frightened her.
By Friday night she was ready to go out. Oliver had gotten in trouble at school several times and had been moody at home. She wasn't sure what was up but she needed a break. She took Ino up on her offer and her mother was able to keep Oliver for the whole weekend which sounded like heaven to her. A whole weekend alone. It had been so long since she'd had alone time. Maybe she would have a one night stand to get her tensions out. She met them at the bar where they were supposed to eat dinner and smiled when she saw Ino and Sai but realized there were with a large group and suddenly felt shy. As she went to leave she turned quickly and walked right into a hard chest. Her hands landed flat against the muscles under the shirt and his hands went to her hips. Her eyes shot up as an apology left her mouth and she gasped. It was none other than Officer Kiba Inuzuka.
"Are you following me?" She fumed and lashed out from embarrassment and shock. "Why are you everywhere?"
Kiba gaped at her. She had some nerve. "Hey lady, I'm here to meet my friends, I don't even know your name, and how would I know you were going to be here? Trust me, I'm not following you." He shot back. She still had her hands on his chest and he realized that he was still holding her hips in his hands. He fought the urge to let his hands wander. He broke from his thoughts and saw Ino approached and released her. The last thing he needed was Ino playing match maker with this woman and him. He honestly had no clue why she was even here. It wasn't a popular spot in town but it was close to where everyone grew up so they had kept the tradition of coming here for dinner at least 2 times a month. He smiled at Ino as she approached closer and put room between him and his neighbor as he walked around her.
"Kiba!" Ino squeaked out as he wrapped her up in a hug. "I see you met my friend, Kate."
"Your friend…?" Kiba replied looking around and watched as Ino linked arms with his neighbor. Great, he thought sarcastically, of course they're friends. "Ah. I see."
"Kate this is Kiba Inuzuka, he works with a lot of the guys from our group and we grew up together. He's a great guy." Ino was talking and Kiba could see the wheels turning in her head. Her matchmaker side was coming out and he was starting to dread the night to come. "Kiba this is Kate Evans, I saw you guys talking, and do you two know each other?" Ino was smiling widely.
"We're neighbors," Kate huffed out laugh.
"He's that neighbor isn't he?" Ino started to laugh. "Wow. I was right."
Kiba watched as Kate turned bright red with embarrassment. They had talked about him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Kiba asked.
"Nothing Kiba, calm down and come on. The guys have been dying to ask you about work." Ino said dragging both him and Kate to the table.
"Kiba!" The collective shouted helloes to him and he said his own back.
"So you gonna tell us how your ass managed to get shot?" It was Naruto speaking.
Kiba blushed at the attention. "I wasn't thinking, I was chasing the guy and he turned on me and shot me in the shoulder and let me tell you, it hurts like a bitch. I hurt everything else in the fall down the stairs that getting shot resulted in." Kiba explained. "Now I'm on 3 months of medical leave. How are you guys doing without me? I'm sure everything is shot to hell with me gone." Kiba laughed. "I know I'm the only thing that held that place together."
Kate studied him as he spoke. So it wasn't a cut, it was a gunshot. She shook her head. She found herself getting pulled into the girls conversation and after a while she relaxed sitting next to Kiba and occasionally their thighs or arms would touch and heat would flare up in her but for the most part she ignored him and he did the same thing to her. After the food was devoured it was time for them to move to the club. She was hesitant on this because she had never been to a club but Ino pulled her along and before too long she was drinking with the rest of them. The only one not drinking was Kiba because it wouldn't mix with his pain medication. She had caught a cab to dinner so she didn't have to worry about driving home but she only drank a few and it helped her loosen up. When everyone took to the dance floor she was glad the girls were dancing together but slowly the guys came to join them and she caught a glimpse of Kiba dancing with a girl with blonde hair and she decided to go to the bar to get a water. She watched him as the girl grinded against him and he had his hands all over her.
