A new morning
Kara stirred from her sleep, turning on her side to stare at the ceiling as she lay in his bed. Suddenly she felt wide awake with the room brighter from every passing minute as the sun rose.
Dropping her eyes from the walls around her, she found the bed beside her empty, and though she knew he must have been around, it made her uncomfortable. She had fallen asleep on the couch; the rest was blurry but she remembered him being beside her at some point. His arm around her shoulders as he visited with his many friends. Her face had slipped against his chest and now here she was…
Her eyes focused on the things around her once she sat up, the small details she hadn’t noticed the night before, like the items on his dresser top, a cabinet with a small television in it, and a half-full laundry bin.
She felt her mouth pull into a smile and it made her heart flutter. Whether it was the excitement of a new life or that she was just purely a nervous wreck, she didn’t know, and didn’t care.
Sweeping her feet from under the warmth of the blankets, she was met by the softness of carpet. It took her minutes to make her way to the closet and her couple of shopping bags there, meandering her way through his room and things, even finding a photograph of herself. It comforted her that he hadn’t forgotten about her after not speaking for the past year.
She chose his sweatshirt again and paired it with a new pair of black leggings then made her way out into the hall. The creak of the door disrupted the silent apartment. It made her pause, her hand slipping from the knob as the door stayed open behind her.
There was a shuffle of what sounded like papers down the hall. She hadn’t been farther than his door and so she hesitated to listen.
“Kara?”
His voice relaxed her and she moved forward to the last open door on the left. Stepping into the door frame, she found him, sitting in a leather swivel chair at a desk with a slick silver laptop open. He had a lot of gadgets and they all looked too expensive to want to touch.
“Morning.”
James’ smile grew as they stared at each other, leaning back in the chair he had now turned towards her in.
She bit her lip, looking around the small office, neatly organized amongst its modern furniture. “Are you hung over?” She teased from lack of other things to say.
“No, I only drank three beers last night.”
“Really?” She was surprised, because she’d passed out much before he’d gone to bed.
“I don’t drink too often.” He stood, closing the computer and the icon on the top went dim.
She watched him with curiosity. “Why not?”
“Practice, games… being hungover compromises that.”
“You mean it makes you suck?” she giggled.
“I don’t like losing.”
She bit her lip as he walked over. “Yeah, I figured that.”
“Did you sleep alright?”
She looked up to him as he invaded her bubble of space. “Surprisingly. Did you?”
He chuckled. “You really can take over a bed when you want… well, all of it.”
“Oh… crap…” Her cheeks got hot. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright.” He kept his laughter as his hands came to her waist with the slightest touch. “Perhaps we need a king size bed?”
She shook her head with embarrassment. “No, it’s fine.”
“It is. Eventually I figured out if I wrapped my arms around you, you became less restless.”
“I don’t think anyone’s ever been next to me in bed and willing to do that,” she breathed. “I just have nightmares.”
“Mm. I noticed.” He took her cheeks and directed her eyes up to his. “You won’t always have them. They’ll fade.”
“I hope…” She brought her hands to his chest and felt the smooth, thin fabric of the casual shirt he wore. It was enough of a distraction from the way her mind wandered through the terrors she’d dreamt the night before. The one in particular she couldn’t shake, losing Josh all over again.
He dropped his lips to hers and her anxiety lessened. Her fingertips hooked the collar of his shirt and pulled, making him lean in closer, readjusting their mouths. She smiled during the in between, his hands cascading back down her body, pulling her deeper to a need she hadn’t known was there. His lips broke hers and he pulled back even when she tried to continue the kiss with him.
“Are you hungry?”
She felt her thumping heart and caught her neediness before it became embarrassing. “A bit.”
“Let’s go get something to eat.” He stepped back and grabbed the keys off the desk.
She followed him out of the office and attempted to keep up to his stride down the narrow hall. As they passed the kitchen, she stared at the mess of beer bottles and garbage strewn about. James seemed less than concerned about the state of the apartment though.
“Here.” He opened the closet by the door and pulled out a coat.
She hesitated to take the sports jacket, more than a few sizes too big, it had a crest on the front of it but she didn’t take the time to look it over. “Thanks.”
“And these should fit you.” He handed her a pair of bright white and pale purple Nikes. Plain as day women’s running shoes and practically brand new.
“Whose are these?”
He gave her a glance as he found his own shoes. “Someone left them here.”
“You don’t know who?”
He put a black sports emblemed hat on his head. “No.”
Kara glanced down to the shoes she held between her fingertips. That would be the only reply she got as well and when she looked back up to him, he had a coat on and the deadbolt unlocked.
“Kara.”
“Sorry.” She hurried to put on the shoes, they did fit, maybe a half size too big but close enough. The stiff foam under her feet proved to her just how new they were. She followed him out into the hall and that’s when she took the chance to take another look around. The building was old but kept up on.
“You have neighbours?”
“Just the owner.” He pointed at the door across the hallway as it opened.
Kara’s eyes went to the aging grey-haired woman as she wrapped herself in the eccentric patterned kimono and stepped out into the hall.
“Sorry about the party last night, Elizabeth.”
The woman eyed him. “Rent was due five days ago, James.”
“I was away.”
She approached them, giving Kara a glance. “Yes, Carter mentioned that when I asked him for it.”
James pulled his wallet from his coat pocket and Kara watched as he counted out some money from the stack of bills in there. He ended up handing her almost everything he had.
“Thank you…” Elizabeth took it from him and recounted it. “You should consider a new roommate.”
James chuckled as he took Kara’s elbow and turned her away with him. “I will.”
“Have a nice day.” She marched back to her door, shutting it without another word.
“She seems…” Kara tried to think of a word.
“She barely puts up with us,” he muttered and led her toward the stairs that put them in front of the final door that opened to the outside world. It wasn’t raining like the night before but it was foggy and the sun couldn’t be seen through it.
Kara zipped up the coat as she waited for him to lock the main entrance door.
He took her hand as he slipped the keys back in his pocket and led her onto the sidewalk of people. Though she was surrounded by busy traffic and pedestrians going about their day, she felt nothing. No cramps, no ping or spike in her blood to hunt. Nothing.
She glanced at James as they walked.
“It’s true, there’s no Demons.”
James glanced at her. “It’s central London. If a demon comes here, it’s not around long.”
She took a deep breath as it all slotted her new life into place.
“You’re safe here.” He pulled her into the coffee shop with its line-up of ten or more people. It buzzed around her with chatting, machines working and existence she’d never witnessed before. She didn’t see one pair of glowing eyes and she could stand up straight without her instincts crippling her. Compared to rural Virginia ruled by things that went bump in the night, London seemed too good to be true. She’d give up dodging demons to stand in a line up full of humans any day, it just sucked Josh would never stand next to her to experience it.
She looked down to her feet in the new runners with a pang of guilt. This isn’t my life.
“What would you like, love?” James asked as he read the chalkboard menu above the trendy breakfast bar.
Her eyes wandered the options. Bagels, breakfast sandwiches, croissants, muffins… She got overwhelmed with the choices as James stepped up to the red-headed barista.
“Oh, you’re back!” Her bright blue eyes sparkled at him.
“Morning, Clarissa.” James nodded. “How are you?”
“It’s busy today. I’m surviving. Same as always?”
“Please but I’d like a double shot of espresso.”
“Did you not sleep last night?” She giggled.
“Hard to do when your mate throws you a Birthday party until three in the morning.”
Her eyes widened. “It’s your birthday?”
“Two days ago.” He amused her with conversation that only made Kara wince.
“Well, Happy Birthday!”
“Thank you…” He looked to Kara as she stood awkwardly between the interaction. “Did you decide?”
Kara looked back up to the choices. “A muffin.”
“What kind?” The girl waited with eagerness.
“Plain?” Kara asked. “Is that a thing?”
The barista stared at her. “There’s lemon poppy?”
“Oh, sure,” Kara mumbled and sank away from the counter top.
“And she’ll have tea.” James paid for the food and said goodbye to the girl. Then took Kara’s hand to lead over to the other counter to wait for the order.
“Do you come in here a lot?”
“So much,” James admitted. “Mostly if I have morning practice.”
“The barista is energetic,” Kara commented.
“Mm.” His eyes held on Kara and he stepped in close to kiss her forehead. She shut her eyes from the sudden comfort on her nerves and tucked herself closer to him. He had a way of understanding her better than herself at times.
The order came up and James passed her the cup of steaming hot tea and parchment bag with her muffin. She followed him out of the shop as he braved a sip of his hot coffee.
“In about two hours I have to go sign the contract for football.”
“Oh…” Kara attempted to understand.
“They wanted to do it days ago. I put it off but it’s time sensitive now if I’m going to be signed. It’s sort of now or never.”
Kara tried to keep up, his stride much longer and quicker than her own and he could weave through crowds of pedestrians like it was going out of style. She on the other hand, bumped a few shoulders and almost spilled her tea but when they finally got to the row house front door, she’d managed to keep her food intact.
“So we’ll do that today and then… I’m not sure.” He let her inside first as she nodded. As he took another drink of his coffee, he ascended the stairs, again faster than she could.
She got to the apartment door huffing as he unlocked it. Her side ached but not from anything supernatural, this time just from the brisk walk and exercise he’d just made her endure.
They walked in and the apartment had stayed unchanged and silent. He took the coat off her shoulders and hung it up with his before removing the hat from his head.
He walked away down the hall, running a hand through his dark hair to push it back off his forehead from where the hat had put it. She followed, attempting a sip of her tea but it was still too hot.
James cleared the small table in the kitchen of any garbage, adding it to the countertops nearby and sat, pulling out his cell phone as Kara sank into a chair across from him. She took her muffin from the bag and broke off a piece.
“Thanks for the food.”
He glanced up to her and smiled, then let his eyes return back to the phone’s screen.
Kara watched him. He was habitual, she could already tell. His coffee, his phone, his food, in whatever shape or form that may come.
Her thoughts reeled. She’d need to memorize him, his actions, what he liked. Perhaps she’d pick it up as the days passed but she felt pressure to do so in the moment.
He pulled at the collar on his shirt as he continued to read something over, lifting his coffee, not looking up.
She leaned forward on the table, eating bits of the muffin in hopes to not upset her stomach. “What are you doing?” she asked, but before he could answer, the sharp slam of a door broke the contented quiet.
He twitched with some annoyance. “Email.”
“Oh…” she breathed.
Carter walked from his bedroom, yawning and stretching his arms way above his head as a girl slipped out behind him. He looked hung over, pale faced and drowsy-eyed with some of his hair stuck up on one side. The striking blonde behind him appeared and came off just as tossed.
“Morning!” Carter announced, grabbing a mug from the sink and washing it out quick for coffee as he flipped on the machine once he’d loaded it with grounds. “How’s everyone?”
“Fine,” James mumbled as he stayed focused on reading the bright little screen.
The girl from the bedroom sauntered over in a large tshirt and Kara wasn’t sure what else was under it—if anything. She sat down at the table and her eyes went from Kara to James, where they stopped to enjoy the view.
Carter glanced at the clock. “Fuck… I have practice today.”
“You do.” James muttered and Carter shrugged it off, walking to the table.
“So…” he said, planting his butt in a chair, “what did you think?”
James sighed, finally looking up. “Of what?”
“The party?” Carter tried.
“What would I have done without another bloody birthday party?”
“Hey, now… clearly you had a good time celebrating.” He winked at Kara.
She paused. “Yeah… it was fun.”
“Was it?” Carter lifted an eyebrow. “Did Jim meet all expectations?”
Kara blinked. “Uh.”
“Just for once I’d love a girl to say no,” Carter laughed.
James glanced back up to his friend. “Can you shut up?”
“Right.” Carter nodded, looking between the girls. “I’ve got to get to practice soon but I’m sure Jim will hire you both a minicab.”
“I’ll do what?” James snapped.
“For the girls.” Carter got up to inspect how much coffee the machine had made and sat back down, running a hand through his hair. “Also, when do those fit little house cleaners come that you just employed?”
James stared at him. “Were you that drunk last night?”
There was an obnoxious beeping and Carter pulled his phone out. He laughed at the notification. “Look at this photo Greg just sent me from last night.” He held it up to show James.
“Forget my last question.” James clicked his phone off. “You’ll need to pay for a car for…” He looked at the girl. “Sorry, what’s your name?”
“Marcie,” she offered without hesitation.
James looked back to his friend. “You’ll need to pay for a car for Marcie yourself.”
“But…” Carter looked confused. “What about her?”
Kara got nervous as the conversation got more awkward.
“Her name is Kara, and she’s my girlfriend.”
Carter stared at him and quickly broke into a laugh. “Fuck, that’s good!” Marcie even giggled while Kara bit her lip so hard she was sure it may bleed. “You’re funny today!” Carter pointed at Kara. “Can’t believe he got you to go along with that?”
Kara straightened in her seat. Wow, this really is a foreign concept for his reputation.
“I’m not joking,” James stopped him.
Carter’s laugh tapered and he leaned closer to him. “Huh?”
“Let’s go over this again.” James rolled his eyes. “Carter, this is Kara. My girlfriend.”
The half-naked girl gasped and Kara wallowed in embarrassment.
Carter stared at him. “Isn’t she American?”
Kara answered before James could stop her. “Yeah.”
“Bloody hell, Carter, stop talking. You have an amazing way of insulting everyone around you.”
“Where do you live?” Carter pressed, ignoring him.
“Um…” Kara didn’t know how to answer that.
“Here.” James told him. “She lives here.”
“What?” Carter blinked. “As your flatmate I think I should have at least been consulted.”
Kara swallowed, looking between them.
James’ brow creased with his frustration. “Are you joking? I just had to pay the entire month’s rent. You owe me your half, all eight hundred pounds.”
“Oh right, rent…” Carter thought for a moment, “I did pay the tele bill and that’s not cheap, cause’ you insist on having that fancy sports package.” His eyes caught Kara’s as he muttered, “Sometimes my parents cut my allowance short when I tick them off.”
“Yes, and it seems I’m the only one who suffers from that.” James stood. “I really don’t have time for this. I need a shower. Nice meeting you, Marcie.” He started to walk away and finished his exit with, “And the house cleaner comes this afternoon.”
Kara stayed put when James didn’t look back for her.
Carter turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “Is he for real?”
“Y-yeah.” Kara nodded.
He studied her, up and down and then sat back in his chair. “Well, fuck.” His eyes went to Marcie, “I’ll call you a car, babe.”
“Thanks,” the girl breathed.
“Where’s he going anyway? He seems agitated,” Carter questioned Kara.
“Uh.” She looked at him. “A contract?”
“Oh.” He nodded, dragging his fingers through his matted hair for the twelfth time. “By the way, I’m not as annoying as James makes me out to be.”
Kara smiled finally. “James gets annoyed with everyone.”
“That is so true!” Carter pointed at her. “I’ve been telling him that for years.”
Years? Kara nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well…” He stood, finishing his coffee and pocketing his phone.
“Do you play on the same team as James?” Kara asked.
Carter grinned at her. “Not anymore. Are you ready?” He stepped backwards, winking at her.
She blinked. “For what?”
He spun on his foot. “Elite football!” He howled, pumping his fists in the air as he backed into his room.
Marcie stood to follow, leaning into Kara as she did. “You’re lucky. He’s gorgeous and talented. Enjoy him.”
Kara watched her saunter away and slip into the room with Carter. She decided to disperse as well and walked down the hall to James’ room where she found him standing in front of his dresser, shirtless.
She shut the door behind herself as he glanced at her. “This pro soccer thing is a big deal, hey?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t know, what do you think of it?”
She thought for a moment as he stepped up to her. Her hands reached and took his bare arms; it made her heart pound. He was gorgeous—Marcie was right. More than gorgeous and it made her all sorts of antsy.
“I think… it means… you’re really good at soccer.”
“I suppose something like that.” He kissed her cheek. “I need a shower.”
Kara nodded, watching him step back.
“Unless you’d rather have one first?”
She shook her head as he parted from her and she sat on the bed. When he left, she lied back into the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. Her morning thus far had blurred by and she tried to go over each detail of it. The office, his kiss, the coffee shop, the barista that knew him by name and then Carter… she exhaled. If she’d been back at home, so far, she’d have done nothing with her morning. James had things to do and he obviously liked to make sure he got them done. She questioned how she’d keep up with him in the long run when she couldn’t even walk as fast as him on the sidewalk.
She shut her eyes as the sound of the shower down the hall filled her overly sensitive ears and the girl Carter had entertained giggled beyond that. This would be her life, if she let it.
The bedroom door shut and her eyes shot open from the sharp click, falling on James as he walked in with a towel around his waist, still damp across his chest. She’d fallen asleep in between all her reeling thoughts but it couldn’t have been a long nap.
He walked to his dresser and she watched the water droplets pool from the back of his neck and trickle down his spine. When the towel dropped from his waist to the floor, so did her stare and she forced her eyes away from his naked form.
He’s so… She looked back to see him in black briefs and studied the way they clung to him.
“Should I change too?” She sat up in bed, adjusting the sleeves of the hoodie she wore.
He gave her a glance for the first time as he put a white dress shirt over his shoulders and fixed the collar. “If you like.”
She watched him as he did up the buttons on the shirt. It fit him so well it made her ache in some very unexpected places. I should definitely change.
She walked to the closet as his cell phone rang. Looking through the mismatched clothing she’d bought randomly throughout the airline kiosks in New York. That had been a bit weird but James had made it fairly painless. She paused to listen to him answer the call.
“Hello.” It wasn’t a question. He knew who was on the phone. “Yes, fine. Well, I’m going to a meeting for football.”
She looked up as he appeared in the closet door now in a pair of black pressed pants and his shirt tucked in.
“Do you want to go to my grandmother’s for dinner later?”
What! She blinked. “Uh”
He held the phone at his ear as he waited for her response.
“Whatever you want,” Kara forced herself into a smile.
He gave her a nod and walked out of the closet, telling his grandmother yes.
She choked. Shit! Frantic, she began to tear apart her lack of clothing options in search of something presentable. There’s nothing!
One floral shirt and a pair of black jeans. It would have to do.
Haphazardly dressed, she walked from the closet to find him sitting on his bed, flipping through his phone, a shiny leather pair of shoes on the floor beside him.
She waited. “Does this look alright?”
His eyes moved up, glancing over the too tight of jeans and loose fitted shirt. “I was afraid you’d try to wear that old hoodie of mine again.”
“That thing is comfy,” she argued with a small smile.
“But not nearly as presentable as what you’re in now.”
She swallowed as he stood, stepping up beside her to take her hair out of the clip.
“I like your hair. Wear it down.”
She took the clip back, nodding. “If it makes the outfit look better?”
He kissed her forehead and his phone beeped. “The car is here, grab your shoes.”
She fumbled to try and understand how a text message told him a taxi had arrived. She grabbed the heels from the closet floor and bounced out, trying to balance and slip them on at the same time.
“I’m ready.” She pulled on the knit sweater while ripping off the tag at the same moment.
He paused to look her over, putting his keys and phone in the pocket of the black coat he put on.
“These are the only nice shoes I have.” She winced.
“Come on, let’s go.” He looked fashionably sensible in his sport coat and dress pants. She on the other hand…
Damnit!
She hurried out into the hall after him, almost rolling her ankle on the carpet of course. He locked the front door and they headed down the stairs toward the outside world. Stepping out into the overcast weather as it broke from the fog that morning, the cool day became her, hitting her senses with the fall atmosphere.
James walked towards a sleek black car with its even darker tinted windows parked nearby. “Kara,” he called again.
She looked away from the street and its people, coming up next to him as he ushered her inside the vehicle.
“This is a taxi?” she asked as she let go of his hand.
“Sort of,” he mumbled, closing her door before she could reply.
Her eyes flew around the pristine leather interior. This is so not a fucking taxi!
“Good afternoon, ma’am.”
She looked to the driver in the front, almost spooked by his sudden presence. “Oh, hello.”
He smiled at her in the rear-view mirror. “It’s a little cool today, would you like the heat on?”
Kara blinked. “Uh… sure?”
James got in beside her and settled into the seat.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Dray. Same course?” the driver asked.
“Yes, please.”
The car pulled into the traffic and she spent a good five minutes in awe of the city she now lived in. The soft touch of his hand broke her from the gawking and she looked to him.
“So, what do you think of London now?”
“It’s great.” She let her excitement out.
He smiled. “Good.”
She looked back out the window with a nod. Even if she’d just stepped into someone else’s life, she liked it, and she didn’t want to leave, not anytime soon.