Soft Spot

THIRTY-SIX

"Thank you." I told the lady before walking out of the store and getting back in my car. I had stopped at a gas station to get something to drink on the way to my hometown. I still had about 30 minutes until I got there. The girls were still asleep when I left so I just left them a note that I went out and I'd be back. I didn't want them to know where I was going. We've been here for 3 days now, and I still have no idea what I'm going to do about Nathan. I love him and I don't want to lose him, but I don't see how we can be together if hes supposed to be with someone else. It makes me upset that he willing to marry someone ither than me for a third of a company. He's willing to risk losing me over a third of a fucking company. There's no way he could have possibly thought that I would be okay with this. If he actually though that I wouldn't mind, than he has no idea who I am.

I parked the car and got out, walking slowly. I haven't been here in years, and I feel completely different. The last time I was here I was a vulnerable scared little girl. Now I'm stronger, amd I can actually look at the name on the stone without falling apart. I'm finally okay and I no longer blame myself for what happened that night.

"Hey big brother." I whispered as I placed the roses on the grave. "I miss you so much." A tear slipped down my cheek and I smiled sadly, touching the gravestone. "I got into Juilliard, just like you said I would." I chuckled sadly. "You would be so proud, I knoe you would." I stayed silent for awhile, just staring at his name.

Thomas Walker.

Loving son, brother, and friend.

"I miss you, big brother." I whispered again, whipping away my tears. "Mom misses you too. She talks about you all the time." I laughed heartlessly. "I swear she forgets you're not here sometimes."

"Katherine?" A voice said, and I quickly turned around. My eyes widened when I saw Lily standing behind me, holding a rose in her hand. Lily was my brothers girlfriend, they were together for 4 years. The last time I saw her was at his funeral.

"Lily." I never knew she still came here to bring him flowers. I thought nobody except me came after the funeral. My mom never even visited his grave. "What are you doing here?" I asked as she walked closer and placed the rose on his gave. 

"I come here once a month, to put a rose.." she trailed off, staring at me. "I haven't seen you in so long.. You look so grown now." She smiled sadly, suddenly crushing me in a hug. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." I cried, pulling away to see her crying as well. Lily and I were always really close. "Do you maybe want to go down to the dinner and get something to eat? I was going to go but I don't really want to go alone." I asked her and she nodded, smiling. I got in my car and drove to the dinner, her following behind me. We use to go there with my brother all the time. It was our spot. Once we got there we sat in a booth and told the waitress what we wanted.

"Hows your mom and dad?" Lily asked, sipping her drink. I bit my lip and looked down at my hands. 

"My dad, uh, passed away awhile ago. But my moms doing fine." I looled up at her and she had a look if pity on her face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." I shook my head, telling her it was alright. The gripped her cup and I suddenly noticed the ring on her finger.

"Are you married?" I asked her, and she quickly tucked her hands under the table. "Its fine, Lily. Im happy for you."

"Im engaged. I got engaged 2 months ago." She told me, tucking her hair behind her ear. I could tell she was trying to hide her excitement, and it made me a bit sad. She shouldn't have to hide her happiness from me.

"That's great, I'm glad you're happy." I smiled, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

"What about you, have you.." she trailed off, clearly not wanting to bring up Carter. She hated him just as much as my brother, if not more.

"Yeah, I moved on. I'm with someone else, he's great. You would love him." I said, thinking of Nathan. For a moment I almost forgot about everything that happened just a few days ago. Only for a moment.

"Hopefully I'll meet him one day." She smiled, and I nodded. We stayed im the dinner and talked for a few hours, laughing and crying about old memories. We probably looked weird to other people, but we didn't care. We ended up exchanging numbers before I left to head back to the hotel. The girls are probably going to get worried by now, I've been gone for almost 5 hours. When I got back to the hotel the girls asked me where I was, but I just told them I went out to explore and then watched a movie.

"So, theres a club a little away and we should totally go tonight!" Amber grinned clapping her hands. I didn't really feel like going clubbing, but I agreed anyway. We came on this trip to have fun and let lose, its about time we do.

"Great, lets go get dresses and then come back and get ready." Nat chirped, grabbing the keys and rushing out the door.

Once we got back home it was already around 7, so we all started to get ready. I was wearing a black strapless dress that stopped midthigh and Amber was wearing one almost the same, except it was red. Nat chose to wear super a short highwaist skirt and a tank crop top with thigh high boots, and she looked smoking hot. Amber did all of our makeup, and when we were finally done we took pictures and then left. We decided to call a cab so that we could all drink and not worry about driving back to the hotel.

"Holy shit theres so many people!" Amber said as we walked inside the packed club. We pushed through the crowd and made our way to the bar.

"Can we have 6 shots of tequila!" Nat yelled to the bartender and he nodded. We each took 2 shots before going to the dance floor and dancing.

"This is so fun!" Nat grinmed as she danced with some random guy, grinding on him. Poor guy probably thought she was going to go home with him later. I danced with Amber since we both had boyfriends and didn't want to dance with anyone else.

After awhile I got tired so I went to get a drink. I sat at the bar, watching the girls dance.

"What can I get you?" The bartender asked, smiling at me.

"Can I have a glass of tequila, neat." I asked and he nodded, handing it to me. I thanked him and took a sip, feeling the burning sensation in my throat.

"Where's your girls?" He asked, referring to Amber and Nat. I nodded my head to the dance floor and he chuckled. "Y'all new around here?" He asked.

"We're on vacation." I told him, and he nodded.

"Y'all be careful out there." He warned and I smiled before drinking the rest of my drink and heading back the the girls.