Katie's Cafe

26

Hannah's been nagging me practically all morning to go out with her tonight after work. Her friends had cancelled their plans last minute, but she still wanted to go into town anyway.

Even though it's Friday and I'm supposed to be staying over at Tom's again, I agree anyway, just to keep her out of trouble and make sure she's not tempted to go out alone.

"Fine, we can go," I sigh in defeat.

"Yey! You're the best".

At least if I'm with her, then she's less likely to be preyed on by creeps. I text Tom and tell him my new plans and he insists that it's fine and that he doesn't mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I act as the designated older sister while Hannah is still having a good time out on the dance floor. She always looks so happy and carefree when she dances.

As the night wears on, I notice how she expertly manages to dodge any and all men who try to approach or dance with her. It makes me feel proud.

Even the string of men who offer to buy us both drinks get shot down pretty quickly because I'd taught her to avoid accepting them from a young age. Some men have a bad tendency to think you owe them something in exchange.

It always seemed scary that we as women have to be cautious when we go out and warn younger women about how dangerous it can be. Why can't society teach the men not to be perverts from a young age instead?

Why should we have to avoid drinking from glasses and opt for bottles instead? Not only that, but then we have to keep our thumbs over it to reduce the risk of someone slipping something in it as well.

When you're beautiful like Hannah is, the world can sometimes be a scary place, especially when you're naive to those potential dangers.

While I'm waiting at the bar to get us one last drink before we head home for the night, I feel someone standing directly behind me, and it's giving me the creeps.

"Excuse me, but do you mind backing off a bit?" I ask sternly before turning around to face whoever it is.

"I thought it was you I saw standing over here," Alan says with a smile on his face.

"Oh, hi Alan. It's good to see you again," I reply with confusion.

I'd never seen him without Tom being there with him before. This nightclub is a little bit on the young side for a man of his age to just be randomly in here.

He's even wearing a suit which makes it even weirder.

"I'm technically still on duty, but I spotted you over here and thought I'd come over to say hello. Is Tommy not out with you tonight then?"

I really hate it when he calls him that.

"No, I'm just here with my sister. We're going to have these and call it a night".

"I was about to go and get a pizza after this, but I can give you both a lift home if you want? It will save you the taxi fare?"

It seems like a bad idea, but I really don't want to be left standing in the taxi rank with a tipsy sister when there's god knows who lurking around at this time.

After telling Hannah what the plan is, we go to the same takeaway as him just to save time. Not to be judgemental but who the hell likes olives as a pizza topping? Seriously Alan?

I sit up front in the passenger seat next to Alan, while an exhausted Hannah casually falls asleep in the back seat, cradling our food on her lap. Adorable.

"So how are things going between you and Tommy then?"

"Pretty good so far. He's asked me to go away with him for a couple of days next month".

"That will be nice, just the two of you all alone," he says, and I unexpectedly catch him glancing down at my legs.

Oh my God, this bloke is definitely checking me out!

That'll remind me never to wear a short dress around him again, but in truth, I shouldn't have to cover myself up at all to avoid getting gawked at.

Not only that, but I'm his work colleagues girlfriend, and he's paying more attention to my thighs than the road right now. I knew there was something off about him, and this only confirms it.

"This is us," I tell him as soon as we get close enough our apartment building, because I don't want him to see which building we go into.

"Do you need any help getting her inside?" he looks back at Hannah who is still half asleep in the backseat.

"No, it's fine," I insist, not really wanting him to put his hands on her either.

When I reach into the backseat to wake her up I drop my clutch handbag with all my stuff then spilling out into the rear footwell of Alan's car. Just my luck.

"Fantastic," I sigh in annoyance when I attempt to drag her arse out of the car.

She wakes up just enough to hold our food while I quickly collect my scattered belongings from his car before waving him goodbye.

"That bloke seemed like a right old perve," Hannah slurs slightly when we enter our apartment building.

"I'm really glad I'm not the only one that noticed that," I laugh.

"What was he even doing there tonight anyway?"

"I don't know, he said he was on duty or something?"

"At a nightclub? That's super weird".

"My thoughts exactly".

Why would a detective be hanging around at a nightclub on a Friday night? Maybe he was hoping that the serial killer might be there about to pick up some random man?

I'd already made my mind up not to tell Tom about any of this and be forced to describe to him how uncomfortable Alan's staring had made me feel.

The last thing I want to do is cause any unnecessary tension between the two of them when they have to work together almost every day.

Who knows, maybe I'm overreacting and being overly cautious like I always am because my sister was in the car with him as well?