Chapter Text
Kate was in an uber rushing to the intersection Edwina had texted. She kept checking her phone, but there were no new messages. She tried calling, but Eddie never picked up. She couldn’t hold still in the backseat, head spiraling into all kinds of worst case scenarios.
The uber was stuck in standstill traffic two blocks away. Kate jumped out of the back seat and started to run. As she turned a corner and saw the blinking lights of a parked ambulance, she started to sprint.
“Kate!” Anthony was weaving between the parked cars on the road across the street, headed towards her, “Here!”
As she approached him, he grabbed her elbow and helped her criss-cross through the traffic to get to the ambulance.
“Edwina is fine. She and El were in a taxi that had a minor fender bender, but they’re fine.”
“But- the ambulance,” Kate was still gasping for air, a result of her sprint and her nerves.
“Edwina bumped her head so they’re looking her over, but it’s not that serious.”
“Not serious? Of course it’s fucking serious! Her head? Where’s the driver? What happened?”
“Didi!” Edwina and Eloise were seated in the back of the ambulance, an EMT sorting through a medic box next to them. “Kate what on earth, you’re in your slippers?”
Kate looked down and saw that it was true. She’d left in such a rush, she hadn’t put on shoes. Anthony was sliding his own trench coat over her shoulders. It seems as though she didn’t grab her jacket, either, and while it was a sunny April day, it was still only 50 degrees and Kate was in a t-shirt.
“You texted 911 and then went silent. I panicked.” She nodded a thank you to Anthony, sliding her arms in the sleeves of his coat, and moving to sit next to her sister.
Eloise stood, “We’ll go grab some bottled water,” she said, gesturing towards a bodega. Anthony was staring at Kate, but when El grabbed his hand, he turned to follow.
The EMT was washing a cut on Edwina’s forehead. “This doesn’t need stitches,” he said, “it just seems bad because head injuries tend to bleed more. You will have one hell of a bruise, though.”
Kate was holding her sister's hand. “What happened?”
“Oh, Kate, it’s so dumb. El and I grabbed a cab to get across town because class ran over and I was running late for my library shift, and this car in front of us stopped short. The car behind us wasn’t paying attention and slammed into the cab. And stupid me, I hit my head on the credit card reader mounted on the seat in front of me. I start bleeding and the driver flips out, and Eloise is crying.”
“Oh, Bon,” Kate leaned for a side big, trying not to bump her head while the EMT bandaged her up. “I wish you would have answered your phone though. Or given more details in your text.”
“”Kate, don’t be mad, but the battery is dead.”
“That is so irresponsible. You have to keep your phone charged! For emergencies! Like this one we are in right now!”
“Don’t yell at me, I was in a car accident,” Edwina teased, giving her sister puppy dog eyes. “Listen, I’m fine. Why don’t you leave me here to get fixed up and go talk to Anthony?”
“I’m not going to leave you here, I have a million questions about concussions.”
“She doesn’t have a concussion.” The EMT said.
“See, Didi? What are you doing? Did you just sniff the collar of the trench coat?”
“It smells like him, but, Bon, I can’t - I don’t feel ready. Wait, did you do this on purpose?”
“Oh, yes, I magicked this car accident into being, permanently scarring my own beautiful face in order to fix your love life. Geez, sister.”
“This probably won't scar, just keep it clean.” The EMT did not seem to understand hyperbole, sarcasm, or sisters.
Anthony and Eloise reappeared, each holding several bottles of water, Gatorade, and soda. “Covering all the bases,” El chirped.
“Thank you so much,” Kate said, accepting a water and opening it, passing it to Edwina. She stood and moved toward the sidewalk. Anthony followed.
“How are you, Anthony? Long time, no see.”
“Ok. Busy. You?”
“Uh, same, I guess.”
They sat on the curb, side by side, the pile of drinks between them. They watch the police deal with the drivers and the other cars on the street honk in impatience. Kate is feeling awkward and sad and unsure what to say.
“I’ve missed you,” she finally says, turning to look at him.
Anthony looks straight ahead and shakes his head. “I can’t- I can’t be your friend, Kate.”
“Right.” Her chest aches. It hurts to hear, but she’s not sure what she expected. But is that what she wants, to be his friend?
“Ant, I-“ El and Edwina are exiting the ambulance, having been cleared. Anthony stands up. Kate can’t let him leave. She has to tell him. She stands up, “Ant, wait - I need to- I want- will you go out with me?”
He finally turns to look at her, hesitant. “Go out with you?”
“A date. With me. What do you think?”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
He’s now smiling, and he pulls her into a hug. They hold each other for a few beats.
“Kate, I’ve missed you too. I’ve really, really missed you.” He breathes in her scent and he feels his whole body relax. Tension he didn’t even know he was carrying leaves his body.
“You didn’t call or text. I waited.”
He lets go and looks at her. “I couldn’t - I didn’t think you wanted anything more from me and I couldn't take that.”
“I did want, I do want, I just-“
Eloise approaches, “Ant, can you please take us home?”
“Yes, let’s get the Sharmas home and then I’ll take you home.” He squeezes Kate’s hand, leaning in to whisper, “I want to hear everything. We can talk on our date.”
Kate smiles at him, then turns to her sister. “Ok, Bon, we need to get you home to wash your face, and I need to wash my poor feet.”
“You’re going to burn those slippers, right?”
——————————-
On the night of their date, Kate is extremely anxious.
“Why are you nervous, Didi? You already know he likes you.”
Kate has changed outfits three times. “What if I fuck it up again?”
“You won’t. Just be yourself. Be the woman I know you are - brave, and funny, and feeling.”
Ant was coming to pick her up.
Kate: I asked you out. Shouldn’t I pick you up?
Anthony: I’ll let you plan and pay
Kate: Oh you’ll let me?
Anthony: So happy we are texting again.
Kate: 🙃
Edwina opened the door to find Anthony holding a bouquet of pale pink tulips and a small bag of dog treats.
“Wow, really going all out, are you?” Eddie teases.
“Absolutely.”
“Kate! Your date is here! He’s making an effort so just pick an outfit already.”
Kate exits her room in a pair of skinny jeans and a flowy boho top, holding a leather jacket. “I’m sorry, I’m ready, oh Ant - these are beautiful. Tulips are my favorite.”
“Kate, you are breathtaking,” he says, kissing her on the cheek. Kate just rolls her eyes. “Still haven’t learned to take a compliment, I see.”
Edwina grabs the flowers, “I’ll put these in water, and hide the treats from Newton, get out of here!”
Kate takes Anthony to her favorite restaurant, a small family run Lebanese place a few blocks away. Anthony holds her hand their entire walk. He feels like he is walking on air. Is this really happening?
Once they’re seated in their booth, Kate gets a bit fidgety, playing with her hair and the menu. Anthony reaches across the table and puts his hand over hers. “Hey. It’s just food. We’ve done this before, yeah?”
Kate smiles, “Right.”
Anthony opens his menu, “No need to tell me what’s good, I’m ordering the most expensive item because you’re paying.”
Kate asks Ant about his siblings and Daphne’s wedding.
“Beautiful. You missed my best man toast - it was very good, made everyone cry.”
“Hmm, Daph told me that you were actually the one crying?”
After dinner, Kate took Ant on a tour of her neighborhood, pointing out the various parks that Newton had been kicked out of.
“At this one, he chased a squirrel up a tree and got all the other dogs to join him in barking at the squirrel. Newton is a true leader. At that one, he swam in the pond, and the ranger came and alerted me to the ‘no swimming’ sign, but I really think the sign needs to specifically say dogs if they don’t want dogs, but also, Newton can’t read.”
Kate and Anthony linger at the entrance to her building. Kate stands on her tippy toes and leans forward to give Anthony a kiss. It starts gentle, but then Ant wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, pushing her lips open with his tongue. As they melt together, Kate let’s out a soft moan, and Anthony slides his hands down to her butt, giving her a squeeze.
Kate pulls away, but her hands continue to grip his shirt. “Wait,” she says. “I..I..,”
“Kate, what is it?”
“I - I think I want to take things…slow. Is that ok?”
“Oh, of course. Can you tell me why?”
Kate looks up, as she tries to find her words. “I like you, so much, and I want to take this seriously. I think, at this point, we need to build some trust and I- I need to get to a point where I know I’m using my words to communicate, and not just my body. If that makes sense.”
“Kate, I’m taking this seriously, too. I will follow your lead, go at your pace.”
“Thank you,” she says, kissing him on the cheek, then pulling away, “Have a good night.”
“Can I still come up? We can chastely watch some tv. I promise not to try and seduce you.”
Kate laughs and shakes her head. “I can’t make the same promise.”
A few minutes later, when Ant is in a cab:
Anthony: I had a really nice time
Kate: Me too
Anthony: How about we watch the same thing from our respective couches and text about it?
Kate: Depends - how do you feel about true crime documentaries?
———————————
Over the next few weeks, Kate and Anthony continue dating. This is the first time in Kate’s adult life that she has done this. They go to movies and dinners. She meets him at his office and takes him to lunch every time she has to pick something up from her print shop, as it turns out it’s just around the corner from his firm.
“Oh, so you’re an ethical landlord!” Kate exclaims, after Anthony has explained his work. “How unusual.”
“Yes, the key is to stay looking like a shark, but acting like a teddy bear.”
Kate shows him her recent projects. “After Daphne posted the invite on her Instagram, I was flooded with requests. I’ve had to raise my rates because I just couldn’t do so many. There was a blurb about me in a wedding magazine! They called my invites a ‘true luxury must have’!”
“Kate, that's brilliant. I’m so happy for you.”
Each date ended with a kiss, sometimes even some more advanced making out, all over the clothes. “This is like being back in high school - it’s fucking hot.”
“Thank you for being patient with me.”
“Kate - we are in this together. Creating something new, for us, together.”
————————————-
Kate was at Cottage, painting an abstract spring landscape in a variety of shades of green. Ben was at the easel next to her, painting a bowl of fruit.
“So, you and Anthony?” He asked.
“So, you and Sophie?” She responded. They just nodded at each other and returned to their respective canvases.
———————————-
One Saturday, Kate meets Anthony in the park. Anthony’s neighborhood was hosting a free evening concert, and Anthony had set up a dinner picnic with gourmet sandwiches, fruit, chocolate cake and champagne.
“This is so lovely, Ant, thank you.”
They sit and eat and listen to the music. Anthony keeps turning to watch Kate. She’s just so beautiful and he never thought he could be this lucky. And then he notices the bee.
Kate can feel his eyes burning into her, and she turns to scold him but sees that his face has lost all color. “Anthony, what is it?”
“No, no, don’t move.”
She sees that he’s not looking at her face, but down towards her breasts, and she follows his gaze. There, she notices that a bumble bee has landed on her purple shirt. Shit, is he allergic? Is it genetic?
She shifts her eyes back to his face, “Anthony-“
But Anthony has reached forward in an effort to hold Kate still, and Kate reached towards him, to keep him from getting closer to the bee. Her movements disturb the small creature, and it stings her.
“Ow!”
“Kate! Can you- can you breathe ?” But Anthony is the one having trouble catching his breath.
“Anthony, I’m fine. I’m fine.” Kate takes his hand and holds it over her heart, so he can feel the steady beat. Then she grabs his other hand, and holds it to his heart. The sounds of the concert and their neighborhoring picnickers disappear as they make their way through some square breathing. Anthony’s eyes are closed and he’s leaning his forehead onto hers. In for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four, and repeat.
Once Anthony’s breathing has returned to normal, he pulls away. “Kate, I am so sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Anthony, I understand. Are you allergic, too?”
“No,” he shakes his head, “I’ve been tested and I’m not, but I always have an epi-pen anyway. I’m sorry, Kate, I overreacted and it’s my fault you were stung.”
“It’s not,” she says, “it’s really not.” She looks around them and longs for a quiet place to talk. “Let’s get out of here.”
They pack up the picnic and make the short walk to Anthony’s place in silence. Once inside, Kate makes them some tea and they sit on the couch.
“I’m so embarrassed,” Anthony says.
“Why? Anthony, being afraid is nothing to be ashamed of. You held me through a thunderstorm! Of all people, I understand.”
Anthony tells her about the hike he was on with Eloise and their father when it happened. How he’d had to make the difficult decision to leave El with him while he ran for help when their phones wouldn’t get service. How guilty he still feels for not helping his dad and for leaving El alone.
Kate tells Anthony about her mother’s accident, how it happened during a storm, how Kate was in the car with her, but too young to remember anything other than the flashes of lightning. She tells him about her grief group, and how it’s made her more open to thinking about her mom, in ways she hasn’t allowed herself to do before. How she’s older now than her mom ever got to be, and how it’s made the year especially hard.
They hold each other and talk about how unfair life is. How terrifying it is to go on and keep your heart open, when anything can disappear in an instant.
—————————-
When Anthony opens his eyes the next morning, he notices two things: one, he’s absolutely freezing, and two, Kate has taken the position of big spoon. He can feel her breath on the back of his neck, her arms wrapped around him, her knees pressing gently into his back. He gently rolls over so he can see her, pulling her and her warmth to his chest. She’s here, in his bed, in one of his t-shirts. They had stayed up talking until they couldn’t keep their eyes open, and now she was here. He turns his head to breathe in her scent.
“Stop sniffing me, you weirdo,” Kate mumbles, her eyes still closed.
“Kate, why is it so cold in here?”
She burrows closer to him. “I overheat at night, so I turned down your thermostat after you fell asleep.”
“Ok, now who’s the weirdo.”
Her eyes are open now, and she moves her hand under his shirt. “Want me to help you warm up?” She asks, stroking his chest. He leans over for a kiss. It’s soft, teasing, as he traces her lips with his tongue. She opens her mouth to deepen the kiss, shifting so she’s on her side, pressed up against him. He feels a charge go through his cock, and he jerks his hips away, not sure what she wants.
Kate moves her hand from his chest to his back, pulling him towards her, “I want to feel you.”
He kisses her again, hands running through her hair and down her back, sliding into her panties and gripping her ass. Kate moans into his mouth, pulling him on top of her, wrapping her legs around his hips. His cock is hard, and she can feel it pressing through his sweatpants. Anthony ruts against her damp panties. She breaks away from the kiss to moan his name, and he’s licking down her neck, sucking on her nipples over her t-shirt. “Fuck, this feels good.” Kate grasps at his shirt, pulling it up, “I need…skin” She loosens her hold with her legs so he can sit up, removing his shirt and then hers, and then he’s pressed against her again, his lips on hers, his torso on hers. Kate's hands stroke and scratch at his back, and she feels all of his muscles tense as his hips press against hers.
He pulls away from her mouth to whisper in her ear, “Kate, I need to taste you.” She can’t form words, she just nods, and he makes his way down her body, pulling her panties off as he goes. He’s kissing the soft skin of her thighs, leaning in to smell her scent, her essence, and Kate bucks her hips, impatient to be touched where she aches for him. He wraps his arms around her thighs, bringing her closer to him, and starts to lick. He gathers her wetness with his tongue, dragging it up and swirling it over her clit. “Fuck,” she cries, her hands in his hair, keeping him close.
He moves a hand from her thigh, and slides two fingers inside her, stroking her softly at first, then quickening his pace when she starts to purr. He curls his fingers a little, finds that sensitive area, and her leg starts to twitch. He’s sucking gently at her clit, and her hips are rising up with every push of his hand. She lets out a gasp as her orgasm starts to build, and he deepens his attention until she cries out, bucks her hips, and kicks her legs out.
Anthony sits up, laughing, “You kicked me!” Kate has rolled over on her side, curled into a ball, hands covering her face.
“Sorry,” she gasps, “lost control there for a minute.”
“Do not apologize,” he says, peeling away her hands so he can kiss her, “A kick in the face was the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
She laughs and returns the kiss, pulling him to her. She reaches down to stroke his cock, “Do you want to fuck me?”
“Desperately,” he says, kissing down her jawline and massaging her breast.
“Take what’s yours,” she whispers in his ear, and he’s never been more turned on in his life.
He flips her over so she’s on her stomach, and he kisses and bites at her ass. He yanks on her hips so she’s up on her knees, and he gets behind her, teasing her entrance with his cock. She leans back into him, “Please,” she whimpers, head buried in her elbows. He thrusts into her, leaning forward to stroke her belly, her breasts, back down over her clit. She’s moaning, “I need, I need…”
He leans down and licks the space between her shoulder blades. “Tell me what you need, baby.”
“Spank me, please,” she begs, and he gives her ass a firm whack. She gasps at the delicious sting of it. “Again, please, sir.”
And the “sir” sends such a charge through him, he has to pause his movements so he doesn’t finish right there. He slaps her again, then gently rubs the spot, alternating firm and soft touches, while her cries get louder, more desperate, and he can feel her cunt tighten around him. Anthony can’t hold it in any more, and releases, crying out her name as he collapses on top of her.
They cling to each other, gasping for air. He’s kissing her shoulders gently, as their heartbeats slow to normal.
“Fuck, Kate, that was delicious.” Kate just sighs and snuggles into him. “Are you hungry? Need some coffee?” She nods, but doesn’t move to let him up.
“Anthony, I want to tell you something. This is a bit hard for me, so be kind.” She pushes herself up to a seated position and Ant follows suit, facing her.
“Tell me. Anything. I’m listening.”
“I…” she looks him in the eye, then looks away, then returns her gaze to his face. “I love you. I need you to know. I love you, and I’ve never felt this before.”
“Oh,” he says, reaching for her hands and holding them in his lap. “Kate, I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
She climbs into his lap and takes him into a hug. “Love is fucking scary, how do people do this?”
He laughs, “We are resilient, I suppose.”
She pulls back from the hug and leans her face to his, rubbing his nose with hers. “I realized it at Aubrey Hall, when I came down to breakfast and you had Newton, an animal you claim to hate, in your lap. It was the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I adore Newton because he’s yours. Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you freak out?
“Because i didn’t really know what it was, and I was scared and embarrassed-“
“Embarrassed?”
“Yes! Love is fucking embarrassing!”
“Kate, I’m so glad you’re telling me this now. I love you so much.”
Anthony makes her breakfast and then runs a bath for both of them. They sit and soak and laugh. He washes her back and her hair. She helps him towel dry, and then she gets on her knees on the bath mat and sucks him off, his hands in her wet hair, calling her name in the echoey room.
They make love all afternoon. She kisses his face and tells him, “For every ten ‘I love yous,’ I need you to tell me I’m a dirty slut.”
“My dirty slut,” he whispers, and she moans.
As they start to settle in for the night, deliciously sore, Anthony turns to Kate and says, “Are we monogamous?”
“I don’t know, are we monogamous?”
“I asked you first.”
Kate laughs. “Anthony, all of my attention is focused on you. I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t want to”
“Me either,” he replies.
“However, once we feel that this,” she gestures between them, “is strong, I think it could be fun to invite other people into our bed. As something we do together.”
Anthony nods, kissing her, “I like that.”
Epilogue
One year later, Kate and Anthony are sitting at a table in the bar where they first met. They are cohabitating but not married - Kate isn’t sure of the need, but is thinking on it. Ant doesn’t care because she’s already his partner in every way. Together, they are scanning the bar, looking for their Unicorn.
“Her?” Ant asks, gesturing towards a curvy blonde.
“No, she’s not my type.”
“What is your type?” He asks, nibbling at her earlobe.
“Not her. Oh! I see! 9 o’clock, in the bright blue dress.”
The woman notices them looking at her and she cocks an eyebrow. “Yes, she’s the one.” And together they walk over to buy her a drink.