A drink with the stars

4.

It wasn't until just after eight that Kate called me, apologising profusely for not being in touch earlier. "I'm sorry," she almost whispered again, "I ended up having an unplanned zoom meeting with my manager, and well..." Kate's voice trailed off and I clucked my tongue at her, "It's okay Kate," I said reassuringly, "I've been busy sorting things out for work," lie "so I've been busy myself, so it's okay," lie. I could hear Kate exhale and she apologised again, "I should be good in about twenty minutes," Kate said, "if you still want to grab a drink?" I nodded eagerly into the phone, I was still laying on my bed, "Yes," I replied, "I'd love to hang out again." "Well," said Kate, "want me to just meet you halfway, it'll take me about fifteen minutes and then we can walk together back to mine?" I nodded into the receiver, my stomach beginning to flip, my chest beginning to pound again, "Sounds great, I'll see you soon." We hung up and I decided to head out right away, I wanted stop in to one of the many convenience stores and grab some snacks to share with Kate. I checked the weather on my phone and saw it was going to be an icy night again and so I pulled on thick leggings, knee high long socks, my knee high leather boots and at least four layers beneath my thicker coat, and I paired it all with a scarf, fingerless gloves and a woollen beanie. I picked up my bag and shuffled quickly out of my room and out the door of the hotel, the ice of the air hitting me like a slap in the face, and I exhaled in shock, my breath white and thick in front of me. I dug my hands into my coat pockets and made my way to the closest store, perusing the aisles and collecting snacks and food, most of which I'd never heard of, and hoped I'd at least selected some goodies that Kate would enjoy. I took a quick look at my phone and noted the time, lining up to pay at the counter and thanking the staff, then bustling back out in the cold, heading towards Kate's apartment. I was eager to see her as I approached the halfway mark and I could see Kate ahead, her bouncing blonde curls tied up this time, in a little bun at the nape of her neck, and she had a long, knee length black coat on, a grey scarf was wrapped around her neck and covered almost all of her lower face, leaving her sparking blue eyes peeking over the material. I grinned at her, and as we closed the space between us she reached out a gloved hand, taking my own in hers, and pulling me into her, her arm strong around my waist, it was almost unexpected and she turned me around, so we were almost snuggled as we walked towards her apartment. "It's cold huh?" I nodded at Kate, "It's freezing." The blonde chuckled, and drew herself closer to me, and I gingerly put my arm around her shoulders, lightly though, unsure if it was allowed and unsure of what exactly I was doing. Kate didn't say anything but tightened her arm around my waist, and rested her head in my shoulder, as if giving me the go ahead, so I tightened my grip on her shoulder and pulled her close. We walked in silence, towards her building and as we climbed the stairs we didn't part until Kate stepped away from me, pushing her key into her door, opening it and motioning for me to step inside.

The apartment was bright and warm, it was cluttered but not messy and I loved the homely feel it had, and I stepped to the side of the front door as Kate closed it, unbuttoning my jacket and hanging it on her coat stand, I bent down and began to unzip my boots, not wanting to dirty Kate's floor and carpet. Kate did the same, and then eyed the bag I had in my hand, "Oh you brought snacks?" Kate eyed the bag again and I opened it so she could peer in, "Oh you brought some good stuff," she said, digging through the contents and pulling out candies and potato chips. I laughed, handing the whole bag to her, "I wasn't sure what you liked but I though a sugar filled night might be a bit of fun." The blonde nodded eagerly, and I followed her to the kitchen, and I sat at one of the high stools, Kate on the other side, pulling out two wine glasses from a cupboard and a bottle of wine from the fridge. "Do you want to order in?" Kate asked, filling each glass, "We could order a pizza, take it up on the roof, or we could just stay in, it's probably too could outside." I nodded, "Pizza sounds great." Kate smiled at me as she took a sip of my wine and then gasped, "Oh a toast," she said quickly, pulling the glass away from her lips and leaning across the kitchen bench towards me. I leaned in a little, tilting my glass towards hers, "To another night of friendship," Kate looked towards the bag of goodies she's placed near her, "good food," I chuckled, "Pizza" I chimed in, "and," said Kate, her eyes meeting mine, "new beginnings." Her eyes lingered on mine and we touched our glasses together, not losing the gaze between us, but I broke it to take a sip, the pounding in my chest growing loud again, and I hastily took another sip, feeling goose bumps scatter all over my body and I looked back to Kate, she smiled softly and all I could think of doing was putting down my glass, leaning over to her and kissing her. But I took another sip of wine again. Kate looked away, taking a long sip from her glass and picking up her phone from the bench behind her, "So what sort of pizza do you like?" she asked, focusing on the screen, and leaning against the bench, she was scrolling through what I guessed was a menu as she picked up her glass with her other hand and walked over to where I was sitting, standing close to me and leaning her body against mine, and I suddenly felt comfortable like nothing was off limits and I wanted to just give in to the touch and comfort that was Kate. So I leaned into her, both of us staring at her phone screen as she scrolled through the pizza options, and I put my glass down, taking my now free hand and sliding it gingerly to the small of her back, and then further, around her waist, pulling her closer into me as we discussed pizza options. She didn't flinch as I let my hand settle at her waist and she let her weight fall deeper into me, as we decided on a cheese pizza and she pulled softly away from me, standing up straight and calling the restaurant. As she chatted down the phone and walked away from me she turned and smiled, and I knew I was going to have to take off a couple of my layers, as I could feel my body heating up. I excused myself to the bathroom and removed two of my tops, splashing a little water on my neck, feeling flustered yet ever so comfortable in Kate's presence and wanting our hands and bodies to connect more, I wanted to just hold her, breathe her in. As I returned to the kitchen, putting my excess clothing on the coat rack Kate was sitting on the couch, she turned around to face me, leaning over the back of the couch, "Pizza will be here in about ten," she said, leaning to the side of the couch where she had moved out glasses to a small table, "Come," she said picking up both glasses and turning around so she was sitting into the corner of the couch, and I graciously walked over, leaning over the couch and taking my glass from her hand, and then walking around the couch, sliding down next to her. "So," Kate said, bringing her glass to her ever beautiful lips, "tell me more about your job?" I too took a sip of my drink, and with barely any food the entire day I was eager for the pizza to arrive, my head was beginning to spin a little but I think it was more the fact that I was becoming so much more comfortable with Kate and I knew she was with me too. "Oh it's nothing interesting," I said with a laugh, "I mean not compared to what you do." Kate smiled shaking her head, " We're just in different fields, doesn't mean it's not exciting," I nodded, as Kate rearranged her position on the couch, and I noted she was now closer to me, our thighs touching softly and I could hear the beat in my chest resonate through me. "It's just finance stuff," I began, aware of how I could feel the heat radiate from Kate's leg onto mine and I was having trouble focusing, wanting to raise my arm and put it around her, pull her into me as we chatted. "I've got a bit of time off still before I officially start at the office so that will be good to get my bearings and be a little more organised." Kate nodded, "More time with me!" I nodded too, unsure of what this was becoming between us and was Kate this way to all her friends or was this a little more than what she would usually do and say to friends. I know she's a touchy kind of person, I'd seen it in interviews and promotional events but I kept telling myself I'd not seen her snuggle into friends' arms or cuddle close as they walked together. I think I just wanted it to be special for me and me alone. There was a sharp knock at the door and Kate jumped up, purposely climbing over me and the end of the couch, when clearly there was no need to do so and we both chucked as I automatically put my hands on her thigh and back helping her over. Kate didn't flinch, but almost paused as I touched her, a breathy giggle leaving her throat as she scampered to the door, her funny leg movements making me laugh as she pulled open the front door, curtsying at the pizza delivery kid and taking the large box. She closed the door and slid her socked feet across the hardwood floor towards the couch, placing the pizza box on the coffee table in front of us. My eyes widened at the size of the box, it was huge and Kate noticed the look on my face, "No pressure to eat it all," she laughed as she flipped over the lid, exposing the cheese covered pizza and she reached over to a couple of plates I hadn't noticed were in the table already, serving a slice for each of us, "we can save the rest for tomorrow or something." My heart pounded in my chest again, this time it was like a thud and I was sure Kate could hear it, so I just smiled softly, but wanting to say, Yes I'd love to spend as much time as possible with you, get to know everything about you. Maybe kiss you. My heart buzzed at my last thought so I focused on my pizza slice, taking a couple of bites as Kate asked some more questions about my job and I floated through my responses, but I began to relax a little more, sinking into the couch, Kate sitting a little closer to me through little movements, as though she didn't want to make it obvious and then we started talking about her upcoming projects, and her next SNL rehearsal. "Would, you," Kate began softly, as though unsure of what my response was going to be, "would you," she repeated, "like to come to watch, come to the rehearsal maybe?" I nodded eagerly, "I would love to," I said in excitement, "I would love to come and watch you perform." Kate beamed, as though I'd said the sweetest thing she could have possibly heard and I felt myself blushing. "Next week," she said, "Keep Saturday free for me." I nodded, "Always free for you," I said, a little too quickly and suddenly regretted it, but Kate just smiled, "Same," she said, surprising me, "just not Saturdays." And we both laughed.