Chapter

Kaylee and Ali woke up early the following morning, determined to get their day off to a good start. The sun was shining brightly as they decided to head to the hotel coffee shop for some breakfast, and to try to figure out what happened the night before.

The two women ordered their breakfasts and a second cup of coffee. Kaylee really did not sleep much that night. Her mind was racing in many different directions. She was thinking of all that had gone wrong in her life over the past few weeks. Her mother had passed away after a long and grueling illness. She had caught her boyfriend, of 8 months, in bed with a co-worker. Upon confronting him later that night, he proceeded to beat her, all the while professing his love and devotion to her. She moved in with Ali the next morning. And, it was then that Ali suggested they take this trip. She was so glad that she had come, but after last night she was really confused. She was not able to shake Kevin's tortured eyes from her mind. It was not his total expression that threw her, just his eyes. She sighed and imagined those eyes filled with joy and happiness.

She imagined being the person that put the joy and happiness in his eyes.

"Ok, Ali, what is the plan for tonight? When and where is dinner?", Kaylee asked her friend.

"Excuse me Kaylee! Do you really think we are NOT going to discuss what happened to you last night?", Ali countered.

"Ali....nothing happened, ok? I tried to help a man that was obviously in a great deal of emotional pain. Shit Ali! You would've done the same thing. He was crying on the sidewalk for goodness sake. I just hope he's ok today. I would just really like the chance to see him again, and ask him for myself. Do NOT look at me like that Ali! I'm just concerned."

"Kay...you mean to tell me you haven't thought about really SEEING him today? Not just to see if he's ok....I mean to see him in the light...to see if he remembers you?", Ali asked.

The waiter appeared with their breakfasts and Kaylee seemed to have lost her appetite. As Ali attacked her pancakes, Kaylee looked toward the door and saw Luke walk inside.

"Ali....Al...", Kaylee whispered, "him...right there....that's that Luke guy....right at the counter."

"Shit Kay...I think that's him. Kevin's bodyguard. I've not seen him too many times, but he sure looks familiar to me", replied Ali. "I think that really might be him."

At that moment Luke looked over at the tables, turned back to the counter, and then did a double take looking back in Kaylee's direction. He started to move toward their table.

"Holy shit Al....he's coming THIS way...dear god! What do I do? What do I say?" Kaylee was quickly losing her cool.

"Kay...just relax...play it cool. We're not sure if what I'm thinking is even right. You want to know about your "Adonis"....ask him. Ask how he is....," Ali said sternly to Kaylee, afraid that her friend was going to run the other way.

By this time Luke had reached their table, and extended his hand to Kaylee. "Ms. Barrone?", he asked.

"Aaaahh..yes, please call me Kaylee. And, this is my friend, Ali. It's Luke, right?", she barely stammered out her reply, and then asked, "how's your friend, Kevin?"

"Well....Ms...I mean, Kaylee...I got him down for the night, but don't expect to see him for quite some time yet today. He was in pretty bad shape when he went to bed. I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to reach out to him last night. He's a good man going through a really bad time right now, and unfortunately when you saw him, the shit had only recently hit the fan, so to speak. If he remembers anything from last night, it'll be you....stuff like what you did hits him hard. He's a softy....and that's what tears me up inside. He doesn't deserve what happened to him. Oh hey, Kaylee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go on and on like this....get to your breakfast. I've got to get back upstairs anyway."

Kaylee just sat and listened in amazement to the big man in front of her. He didn't say much, but what he said spoke volumes. "Luke...really..no need to continue thanking me. I only did what anyone else would've done. Gosh, how could anyone not have stopped to try and help? I just hope that whatever is wrong, will be fixed soon, and he can smile again. He's lucky to have a friend like you."

"Well....I'm not too sure about anyone else stopping to help....hmph...the only people that want to help him seem to always want something from him. I try to get him past all that...and keep him focused. But, that's another story," he chuckled softly, "and I don't really have the time. I'm leaving for sure now. Thanks again Kaylee, you'll never know what it meant. I just hope he remembers what you did. Enjoy the rest of your stay here....nice meeting you Ali", and with that Luke turned to walk out of the coffee shop.

Kaylee looked at Ali, who hadn't said a single word the whole time Luke was there.

"Oh my God, Kay......this trip is getting stranger by the minute", Ali said.

"Yeah....you're telling me......I can't wait to see what the rest of the day brings", Kaylee said as she finished her coffee and stood up, "I have to get moving....my nerves are starting to get the best of me. I'll see you back upstairs later."

And, with that said, Kaylee left the coffee shop and headed outside, into the sunshine to try and figure out what the hell was going on in this crazy city.