Finding Paradise

CHAPTER 2: TO CALL OR NOT TO CALL

A few hours later...

**Text from Leia: Girl, ur British admirer was talking up a storm w Justin after u left. Asked about u. U gonna call him?**
**Text to Leia: Srsly? Idk, kinda nerv. What did Jus say?**
**Text from Leia: Ur a hot piece of ass that he's been dying 2 tap, JK 😂😂. Ur like a sis, and ur single.**
**Text to Leia: What? He told him my status? So shame!**
**Text from Leia: CALL HIM! HE'S 🔥, AND U KNOW U WANT 2!**
**Text to Leia: I can't face him now. Take my shift 2moro.**
**Text from Leia: Skip has ur shift 2moro. Ur off. I know u don't have plans...CALL HIM!

"Ugh!", Kai grunts as she buries her phone under the couch cushion. "What do you think, Dom?", she says looking over at her roommate, a 2-year-old black and white spotted cat.

"Meow", was the reply she got, along with an eye roll.

"You're no help", Kai mutters as Dom flips over on his back. She reaches over to rub his belly when her phone starts ringing. She digs it out from under the cushion to see who's calling.

"Hey Jus", she says as she answers the call.

"Hey, you should call this guy Harry", Justin says. "I spent almost the whole afternoon talking with him, and he's really cool. I'm gonna hang out with him later tonight if you wanna come."

"Oh yeah? Where you guys going?", Kai asks. *"If Justin's there I'll be comfortable."*

"Captain Jack's", Justin says. "Meet us at 8 okay?"

"Okay", Kai says and hangs up. She looks at the time, one hour to freshen up.

**Text to Leia: Gonna hang out with Jus @ Capt Jacks. Wanna come?
**Text from Leia: Movie night w Jake. Sry, have fun.

"It's not a date, it's just hanging out and making a new friend", Kai says.

"Meowr?"

"Yup, I'm sure. But Dom, you should see this guy. He's so dreamy, and British...wait, ugh what am I saying? Okay, head on straight. I guess I should get ready."

Forty minutes later Kai is dressed in her most comfortable blue jeans and a casual t-shirt. A tomboy to the core she's better at blending in and never liked to stand out in a crowd. She pulls her hair back in a messy bun and grabs her keys, phone and card wallet. "Don't wait up for me", she says to Dom.

He looks over at her from his cat tower and resumes cleaning his paw.

Shaking her head, she locks up and gets into her truck. After a short drive she pulls into a parking stall. She sees Justin's car and considers backing out. *"But what if Harry is as cool as Justin says. I guess hanging out for one night will be fun."* She turns off the ignition and walks into the front door.

"Kai! We're over here!" She hears Justin over the noise and manuevers her way over to their table. Captain Jack's is a popular hangout for locals and visitors. There's always a crowd, and there's always a game on one of the screens above the bar.

Harry stands up as Kai arrives at the table and pulls out the chair next to his. "Good to see you again, Kai", he says when he's seated.

"Thank you. Good to see you too." She glances at him and there's no doubt that he's her type. *"Dammit Leia, I hate when you do that!"*

"You want a drink?", Justin asks her.

"Just a soda", Kai says. "I'm driving."

"Same here", Justin says. "And, I work tomorrow." He gets up to order Kai's drink. "I'll be back", he says.

"Justin has been telling me about some great places he can show me on his days off", Harry says. "If you're not busy, maybe you can join us."

"Yeah", Kai says. "Jus is a fun guy to hang out with."