Chapter 4

Kathryn

Reality didn't take it easy with me the next morning. Since I would be going nowhere, there was no reason to even get out of bed. I sat cross-legged on my bed with my laptop open, scrolling through job postings.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, pretending to be productive, but really, I was just staring at the blinking cursor and wondering how the heck everything had gone downhill so fast.

Half of me wanted to crawl under the covers and sleep until life fixed itself. The other half kept opening new tabs, sending out random applications like throwing paper boats into the ocean, maybe one would float.

The vibration of my phone broke the silence. I reached for it without checking the screen.

“Where were you last night?” Lexi’s voice snapped through the speaker before I could even say hello.

My heart gave a small jump. I had been prepared for a pity call, not an interrogation.

“Uh, I was at home—”

“Don’t lie,” she cut in. “I came by. You weren’t.”

I froze, staring at the mess of clothes scattered around my room. Caught. I swallowed and tried to sound casual. “I… went out. Needed to clear my head. I just went for a few drinks.”

“You went drinking without me?” Lexi sounded genuinely offended. “How dare you abandon your partner in crime like that?”

I rubbed my temple, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the headache forming. “You were busy, Lex. I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re supposed to bother me! That’s what best friends are for!”

“I know, I know,” I mumbled, falling back against the pillow. “It’s just—everything sucked, and I thought maybe a little alcohol could help me forget I got fired.”

Lexi sighed, dramatic as always. “That asshole ex-boss of yours doesn’t deserve another thought, Kat. Forget him.”

“I’m trying.” I let out a breathy laugh. “Actually, I think the night out helped. It gave me an… experience.”

Her tone shifted instantly. “Experience? What kind of experience?”

I hesitated. My throat tightened as flashes from the night before flickered in my head.

“Just—something unexpected,” I said finally, forcing my voice to stay calm even though my face was heating up. “Let’s just say I learned something new about myself.”

“Oh, really?” Lexi’s curiosity was dripping through the phone. Ugh…Why did I even mention it? She won't drop it until I spill every shit. “Like what?”

I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t know I liked… being told what to do,” I admitted in a whisper, instantly regretting it.

There was a short pause before she laughed. “Oh my God, Kathryn. Don’t tell me you got yourself a Dom.”

“Lexi!” I sat up, flustered. “It wasn’t like that…it was just uhh…one night. I don’t even know what came over me.”

“So you’re saying you hooked up?”

“I’m saying—” I covered my face with my hands, my cheeks burning. “—I made a questionable decision after three Vodka shots, and I’m choosing not to talk about it.”

She laughed harder. “You’re blushing, aren’t you?”

“Goodbye, Lexi.”

“Wait, wait, don’t hang up!” she said between giggles. “Okay, fine. I won’t ask about your mystery man. But you’re not moping at home today. Get dressed, we’re going out. I want you to meet someone.”

“Lex, I’m not in the mood for your matchmaking again.”

“It’s not a date,” she said quickly, but her tone said otherwise. “Just dress decently. I’ll text you the address.”

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a full ten seconds before groaning into my pillow. “Why do I let her boss me around?” I let out a short breath.

I dragged myself into the shower, letting the hot water run over me until my thoughts stopped racing. I threw on jeans and a white blouse, “At least it made me look like I had my life slightly together.” I muttered to the mirror.

By the time I reached Lexi’s apartment, she was already waiting at the door, her blonde hair twisted into a messy bun, grinning lightly.

“There you are,” she said, pulling me into a hug that smelled like coffee and vanilla lotion. “I was beginning to think you bailed.”

“I considered it,” I muttered.

She looked at me with a mischievous glint.. “I never told you I have a brother, did I?”

I blinked. “No… you didn’t.”

“Well, I do. And he’s here visiting. You’ll like him.”

Something in her tone made me suspicious. “Lexi…”

“Relax,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.

The apartment smelled faintly of fresh coffee and men’s cologne, I stepped inside, my pulse quickening with every step toward the living room.

The air left my lungs.

Sitting casually on Lexi’s couch, one arm resting along the back, was the man from last night…. The man I’d disappeared from his apartment only hours ago. My entire body went rigid.

For a second, I thought maybe I was hallucinating. My brain scrambled to find a logical explanation, but there wasn’t one. He looked just as shocked as I felt, though he hid it better.

Lexi, completely oblivious, beamed and said, “Kathryn, meet my brother, Weston.”

The world tilted a little.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, loud and out of sync. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but my throat was dry. Weston?

“Nice to meet you,” he said smoothly, extending his hand like nothing about this was insane. His voice was calm, but I caught the faintest flicker in his eyes, the same dark amusement from last night.

My hand trembled slightly as I took his. His palm was warm and familiar.

Lexi looked between us, clearly confused. “You two look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I forced a shaky laugh. “No, just—uh—yeah, you too?”

My brain screamed What the hell?

Of all the men in the city, it had to be him? I mean I just had a fucking BDSM night with the same man…he was Lexi's brother? My best friend's brother?

I pulled my hand back quickly, shoving it into my pocket. My cheeks were burning, my pulse racing.