kat :: lrh (discontinued - read edited version!!)

twenty three

"Kat, can I talk to you before you go?" Michael asks hesitantly as I hold Andrea in my arms, her smile wide at me.

"Of course," I smile at him, setting Andrea down and putting my arms out for Alex, who was resting in Michael's arms.

"Just, can you come upstairs when you're done with whatever you still have to do for them?"

"You can't just leave them alone, have you been leaving them alone?" I question, Alex's small hand wrapped around my finger.

"No I haven't," He laughs, "We can stay down here though, maybe go into the kitchen?"

"Of course," I set Alex down, following shortly behind Michael into the kitchen.

He stands for a second, staring awkwardly down at his feet as his body shifts, leaning against the counter.

"What's going on, Mike?" I ask hesitantly, his eyes traveling up from his shoes up to mine.

"Kat, there's no easy way to put this, but-"

"Wait, did you do something to my kids? I swear to god if you did-"

"Oh, no. I would never," Michael chuckles, relief filling throughout my body.

"So what is it?" I ask, my hand pushing my hair out of my face.

"Kat, I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you-"

"Michael, I can't hear this right now, please not right-"

"No," He says, obviously getting a bit saddened, "I have kept this to myself since middle school, Kat, so you're hearing it. I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you. Every time you'd look at me is get nervous, and every time I looked at you I smiled, and I still do. Kat, I'm tired of holding this in," He blinks away a couple of tears before continuing, "And God, how I've somehow managed to watch you be with a man who isn't me. Katherine, I love you and I can't stop loving you."

"I can't do this," I mumble, heading to the living room to get the twins before his hand wraps around my wrist and pulling me to him, his lips colliding with mine. I lean into him, his lips warm against mine, but not fitting as well with mine as Luke's do.

His hands meet my waist, his fingers bringing up the hem of my shirt a bit, my fingers pulling roughly on his hair, a slight groan of pain falling into my mouth.

I pull away quickly, tears immediately falling from my eyes, my lips moving in a quick motion, mumbling the words "what have I done" over and over again.

"Kat, I won't tell him," Michael mumbles.

"I can't lie to him!" I shout, "I'm getting married to him for gods sake! I love him goddammit, and I don't love you in that way!"

"Kat, come on-"

"No, I'm leaving," I whisper, running into the living room and picking up the bags, as well as placing Alex and Andrea in their stroller before running out of the front door.

-

"Luke, can we talk?" I ask him, Alex's fingers tangled in my hair.

Luke walks over, Andrea propped up in his arms and slapping her hands lightly against each side of his face, her blonde hair matching his. This was honestly one of the most attractive states I'd ever seen him in. His sweatpants hanging low on his hips and his plain black tee wrinkled, small bags under his eyes and his hair messed up, but most importantly the wide smile on his face as he stares at our daughter in his arms.