“For what?” She looks at me quizzically.
“For being nice to me.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she says as she opens the door to Beans.
“I don’t know you said that Kai has a thing for me but you guys have like a thing right?”
“Kai and I are complicated Katie, but he is free to date anyone he wants, including you.”
I don’t get to say anything more as she goes into the back and clocks in. A few minutes later, she brings over a latte for me. I smile and thank her, feeling forever grateful. Today has been pure crap.
The door dings and Kai walks in looking mysterious and broody. When he sees me he stiffens, great even my annoying face licker thinks I am a whore. Khloe is holding his hand tightly, dressed in tights, a red tutu, and a long-sleeved heart shirt. Raven comes from behind the counter handing Khloe a cookie.
“Khloe-bug I am so glad you came to see me today!” she exclaims and Khloe giggles as she crams her cookie in her mouth. Kai scratches the back of his neck, something I notice he does often. Khloe starts running around the shop barking and laughing. Kai and Raven are whispering and my ears grow hot, I think they are talking about me but I can’t be sure.
Khloe sees me and I wave at her, unsure if she remembers me from the other day. She comes right over stretching her arms up to me and says, “Khloe sit.”
I pick her up and let her sit in my lap for a minute. She starts twirling her finger around in my hair. “Khloe make you pretty.”
“Okay, make me pretty.” She starts twisting strands of my hair into knots that I am not sure I will ever get out unless I cut them.
Kai and Raven both look over at Khloe and me, laughing. “Never let this one get ahold of your hair Katie,” Raven says as she removes Khloe’s death grip from my hair. “Hey Kai, did your mom ever get a sitter for Khloe? I think she likes Katie a lot.”
“No,” he answers awkwardly.
Khloe starts singing, “Khloe and Katie friends forever.” Raven winks at me.
Kai says to me, “Well if you are interested my mom is in need of someone to watch Khloe three days a week, it’d be Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights after school until about eight or nine depending on when my mom gets home.”
“That’d be great. I won’t be watching Chase anymore, so should I give you my number for your mom or you can just let me know something at school.” I feel excited about even the idea of having another job so quickly. I needed something good today.
“Yeah, here.” He reaches his phone to me. I put my number into his contacts under Kat, since that is what he always calls me.
“Well I gotta’ get to work. Thanks for bringing Khloe-bug in today Kai.” Raven pats his arm as she tells Khloe bye.
“I have to go too,” I say handing Khloe over to her big brother. His shirt rides up over his hip exposing a tattoo of a music note. It’s sexy. It makes my cheeks flood with warmth.
I quickly look away and wave at Raven as I go out the door. She calls out my name before the door shuts and I have to catch it with my foot. “I’ll see you at lunch tomorrow.” I nod with a smile. At least I have one friend. Oh, God, the color drains from my face as I walk home; school is going to be horrible tomorrow.
Maybe I can fake sick, blame it on my period or something. I don’t want to show my face around Penny or Becks after the things they said about me. And I still have to face my mom.
When I get to my house my mom’s car is gone. I can’t remember if she had to work today or not. I find the remains of this morning’s breakfast on a plate in the refrigerator. I heat up the leftovers, grab a bottled water, and go hide from the world in my bedroom.
Taking my phone out, I have a missed call from my mom. I choose to ignore it. I am not in the mood for her to yell at me for walking out on her earlier today. My phone has an incoming call from a number I don’t recognize. I am almost afraid to answer but I hit accept.
“Hello, is this Katie?”
“Yes,” I squeak out. The woman on the line sounds so official. I feel guilty. What if my mom was calling because she needed me?
“Hi, this is Kai’s mom he gave me your number and said you were interested in watching Khloe for me?” I let out a sigh of relief. I am just paranoid as usual. “Do you think you could come over this evening so I can meet you and see how well you interact with Khloe? Kai says you have worked for the Millers. Is five o’clock okay?”
“I will have to call my mom to see if she can drive me. Can I call you back?”
“I can have my son Kai, pick you up and drive you back home.”
“Um, sure okay.” We hang up after she confirms my address.
After I get out of the shower, I stick a note for my mom on the fridge so she doesn’t worry about me. I finish getting dressed and straighten up the living room while I wait for Kai to pick me up.