~Chapter 2~
Kathryn shuddered slightly as she looked out the window of Joey's vehicle at the darkness. "Thank you so much sir for stopping to see if I need help," Kathryn spoke softly, thanking Joey.
"It's no problem ma'am," Joey replied, "just an act of common courtesy."
"Yes indeed," Kathryn sighed. "Are you from around here sir?"
"Sort of. I'm here visiting, but I used to live here."
Kathryn felt her heart sink further. "Alright, thank you anyway sir."
"No problem. Sorry I couldn't help you."
"It's alright."
"By the way, I'm Joey."
"I'm Kathryn."
"How long have you been here?"
"Just arrived yesterday."
"Oh really? From where?"
"Paris."
"That's quite the lovely place. My wife thinks we should move the family there."
"Very nice choice of hers. You mentioned a family?"
Joey nodded. "I've got a little girl. She's going on two," he smiled, thinking about his little Brianna. "If you'd like to see a picture of her, there's one in the glove compartment."
Kathryn opened the glove compartment, leaning forward a little bit. Reaching in, she picked up a picture that had been laying face down & turned it over in her hand, looking at the picture of Joey, Kelly, Brianna, & some other men. "She's adorable! Oh, I've never seen such a little angel!" Kathryn smiled.
Joey smiled with pride as he turned down a private road. "Yes she is. She's a blessing to me. I shocked all my friend when I told them I was going to be a dad. They all thought Chris or Lance would be the first to have children."
"Which ones are they?" Kathryn asked, looking at the four other men in the photo.
"Lance is they one with the green eyes & the spiked hair. And Chris is the only other one with brown eyes."
Kathryn scanned the picture over for the two he had described to her, & there they were.
"Find them alright?"
"Looking at them now."
"So, are you visiting or staying?"
"Staying. I just need to find a place to live."
"My friend might be able to help you there. He's got a huge house & plenty of rooms."
"I wouldn't want to imppose."
"Well, we're almost to his house, so we can find out then. Sound good to you?"
"Sounds perfect actually," Kathryn smiled as they pulled to a stop in his friend's driveway. As she stepped out of Joey's car, Kathryn took one look at the house & her jaw dropped.
"Told you it was big," Joey chuckled.
"You weren't lying there."
"C'mon."
The two walked up the drive & Joey knocked on the door. A few minutes later, Chris answered the door.
"Hey Joey, who's the girl?" Chris smiled.
"Her name's Kathryn. Her car broke down so I picked her up," Joey answered. Joey looked at Chris & noticed the look Chris was giving him. "Chris, this is her second day in the States. She arrived from Paris yesterday."
"Oh. OKay," Chris sighed in relief. "Come on in."
Joey & Kathryn walked inside when Chris opened the door wide. "Hey Chris, do you know how to get to Comfort Inn from here?" Joey asked as Chris shut the door.
"Which one?"
"The one by a resteraunt called 'Shells'," Kathryn told Chris.
"Yep."
"Would you mind giving the girl a lift?" Joey asked.
"Oh no problem. It's cool. You ridin' with?" Chris asked, looking at Joey.
"Sure!"
All three walked outside & got in Chris' PT Cruiser. Chris started the engine & pulled out of his driveway, heading down his private road.
"So, what are things like in Paris?" Chris asked, breaking the silence.
"They're really nice," Kathryn smiled. "I miss it though. My mother is still there," she sighed. "We saved up money so that I may come here to live." Kathryn looked over at Chris. "Have you ever been there?"
"Me? Nah," Chris answered, turning onto the main road, driving in the direction of Comfort Inn.
"You should go there sometime. I think you'd like it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Chris smiled.
"hey Chris, Kathryn here told me on the way over to your place, that she was looking for a place to live. Do you think she could live with you in one of those extra room?" Joey yawned from the backseat.
Chris looked at Kathryn. "Well I really don't see the problem in that if she's okay with it," he smiled.
Kathryn looked at Chris. "Are you sure? I mean, I wouldn't want be imposing, would I?" she asked. "That's the last thing I'd want to do. After all, we just met."
"I'm sure! I live alone in that large house, I have plenty of rooms... Why the hell not?" he chuckled.
"Well, thank you so much, Chris!" Kathryn smiled, kissing Chris' cheek. "Um... One tiny problem though."
"What is it?"
"I don't know how to get back to your place. And I have no ride back to your place. I don't even have a job yet to pay the rent."
"Don't worry about rent, I don't need the money. And don't worry about rides, I'll hook you up with one of my cars."
"No, I couldn't impose that much on you."
"You wouldn't be imposing... Honestly," Chris smiled, pulling up to the font office of the Comfort Inn. "What room are you staying in?"
"Room 123."
"Alright. I'll pick you up at two in the afternoon tomorrow. Is that alright with you?"
"It's perfect," Kathryn smiled, getting out of the vehicle. "Thank you so much Chris."
"Hey, it's no problem. Just have all your stuff ready, okay?"
"Alright. See you tomorrow," Kathryn smiled, shutting the car door.
Chris & Joey watched her walk in the doors of the lobby & disappear down the hall. Pulling onto the road from the parking lot, Chris drove back towards his home. "I'm shocked she didn't know who we were," Chris said, stopping at a light.
"I second you on that one. I wonder if she even had the faintest idea of who we are. I'm doubting it because I had to point you & Lance out to her when I showed her that picture I have in my glove compartment," JOey countered as the light turned green & Chris began driving.
"She might not Joey, she just might not."
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~In Kathryn's Room~
Kathryn looked at herself in the hotel mirror. She had her collarbone-length, reddish-brown hair down, & was wearing a tight black bathing suit. She grabbed her pool towel & left her room, heading to the pool area. She had heard they had a nice hot tub & she needed to relax. She was stressed out over what all had happened that night. It had all been far too much for her to soak in at the moment.
"Oh, tomorrow is going to be one helluvah day," she thought to herself as she entered the pool area & got in the hot tub after setting the timer. She felt her body relax as the jetspray messaged her tense back.
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