Jealousy permeated throughout Katherine’s body as she tried her best to be polite and kind. Her stomach flipped and twisted as she fought off the urge to ask Kylie everything she knew about Austen. She wanted to know what it was like to date him. How it felt to be loved by him. How he treated her. Was he funny? Did he make her laugh? There were parts of her that wanted every tasty morsel of information she could consume.
The three meandered toward the overstuffed patio furniture and sat down. “So girls, what’s been going on? Fill me in on everything.” Kylie eyed Katherine, “You still dating that super-hot guy? What was his name? Colton? Colby? Something?”
“Cooper,” Katherine snickered.
“Yeah, Cooper. So you two still together or what?” Kylie feigned interest.
“We’re still together,” Katherine’s tone hitched.
“What’s wrong? Trouble in paradise?” Kylie’s asked smugly.
“No. It’s just complicated is all,” Taylor shot a look of death at Katherine and kicked her swiftly under the table.
“They’re fine, Kylie. Katherine’s just a mental case because her boyfriend is royalty.” Taylor attempted to change the subject.
“Maybe he should be dating a girl who can handle that sort of thing,” Kylie arched her brows. “I’ll take him off your hands, Kat, if he’s too much for you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” Katherine knew Kylie wasn’t entirely joking.
“What about you, Tay?” Kylie turned to look at her. She forced a sweet smile before she asked, “Everything good with Danny?”
“No complaints,” Taylor glared.
“Oh Taylor, tell her what Danny did.” Katherine longed to shift the focus of Kylie’s questions away from herself.
Taylor’s face instantly turned two shades pinker. “Well, my crazy boyfriend told me he loved me for the first time ever. Not only did he tell me loved me, but he screamed it…out loud…in a parking lot filled with people!”
Kylie’s mouth fell open as Taylor continued, “I was so embarrassed.”
“I would be horrified if any guy ever did that to me,” Kylie snapped in disapproval.
“You know what though? It was sweet. And romantic,” Taylor grinned, “So what about you, Kylie? Any guys in your life?”
“Oh you know, the usual. I meet a lot of guys at work, but I can’t get the ones I don’t want anymore to go away.” She rolled her eyes and then breathed in quickly, “That’s what I was going to ask you. I almost forgot. What ever happened to that dream guy? Did he ever come back?”
Katherine almost threw up and Taylor’s face turned white, “Nope. He’s just gone,” Taylor tried to convince her.
“You’re lying,” Kylie called her on it. “I might have believed you if her face didn’t give it away.” She glared at Kat with disgust.
“No, really,” Kat shook her head, “he hasn’t come back.”
“I don’t even know you that well and I know you’re completely full of it.”
Katherine glanced at Taylor for approval and she softly nodded her head.
“Okay. He’s been back. A few times,” Katherine admitted.
“Really? And it’s the same guy every time?” Kylie asked, intrigued.
“Yep, same guy.”
“Do you know who he is yet? I mean, is he real?”
“I have no idea,” Katherine attempted to lie again.
Kylie squinted, “You’re a terrible liar, Kat.” Kylie’s eyes darted between the two girls. “What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?”
Taylor rubbed at her eyes and then stared at Kylie. “Just keep an open mind, okay?”
Kylie responded with attitude. “Whatever. What is it?”
Katherine was so scared for Kylie’s reaction that she stood up and started to pace back and forth. She assumed Kylie would be incredibly angry, would most likely hate her and probably want to fight her. Kat wasn’t a fighter, so she hoped it didn’t come to that.
“Why are you pacing? Sit down.” Kylie barked at Kat. “Which one of you is going to tell me what the hell is going on?” She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot against the deck.
Katherine shook her head ‘no’ and watched as Taylor took a deep breath. “We figured out who Kat’s dream guy is.”
“I gathered that much.” Kylie grumbled, “So, why all the drama? Who is it?”
“Austen,” was all Taylor said.
“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Kylie asked through clenched teeth.
“It’s Austen, Kyles. He’s the one from her dreams.”
“Are you joking? This is a joke right?” Kylie glowered at Katherine and screamed, “He didn’t even know you! Why the hell would you dream about my boyfriend?” Her face reddened as she continued to yell, “I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true,” Katherine added. “Kylie, please calm down.”
“Don’t,” Kylie whipped her head and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Kylie, don’t be like that. It’s not her fault. She had no idea who he was until last night,” Taylor explained.
“What happened last night? How do you even know it’s him? How do you know she’s not lying, Taylor?”
“She recognized him from a picture in my bedroom. And why would she lie about this?”