PELLA has told KY a thousand times why stealing two dresses simultaneously is dumb because it doubles the chances of being caught. But KY does not see it in that fashion. And that has always been the way KY operate, so that KY have a dress to place in KY's rainy-day fund and a dress to sell for the homeless women's shelter. KY realize that shoplifting and donating half of the proceeds to a charity is nowhere near sufficient to forgive KY for KY's wrongdoing, but KY simply feel KY need to do something to help those families out there, considering how KY's family ended up at one of those shelters. KY still remember what it's like arriving at the shelter with KY's mom and siblings when we were left with nothing after KY's dad died. The feeling of desperation everywhere and fear of what the future is. KY know KY's means and reasons are completely screwed up, just like everything else in KY's life. Somewhere along the way, KY'm going to devise a workable system for helping out the shelter. KY already volunteer an evening a week there, but it never feels like enough.
Finishing the listings, KY punch in and assume their position at the bar. "Get me five glasses of champagne, and make it snappy," a nasal voice commands, and KY turn back to welcome KY's first client. It's CAT M'NOO. Just fantastic. KY catches a glimpse of the table she gestures towards, and KY knows that she's sitting with some of our old classmates at WASON CROCK. KY suppresses a sigh. CAT M'NOO's dad is a KASH MANCHESTER skipper, so she can waste money at a joint like this, but KY hopes earnestly that she isn't going to waste KY's entire shift sitting here.
Business is crazy, and KY is refilling drinks in a rush, trying to get behind on orders. Finally, after a while, things start to slow down a bit, and KY've just redecorated the vase of new red roses that's sitting on the bar. KY takes a moment to inhale their strong scent. The KASH MANCHESTER is black and red decorated, and there are always new red flowers everywhere in the place. Boss is on break and has no customer to deal with, so KY pulls out KY's phone and checks the ongoing chess game KY'm playing. It's an online chess site where you play to win money. It's a fine side business for KY, especially when KY've so many bills to pay.
KY checks KY's opponent's latest move. KY'm playing the Sicilian Defense, but KY've chosen to go with the Taimanov Variation. After KY's most recent moves, KY can tell that KY's opponent is off balance. KY's excitement is mounting because we're not far off the endgame.
KY're considering KY's next move when KY senses a customer approaching the bar. Looking up with KY's warm smile, KY's face freezes. Because KY catches KY'sself staring into the eyes of the last person KY was looking to see here today….
KY presses the phone's off button to erase the screen. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that how you're greeting all your customers?" ISAAC drawls.
"I don't care about liars," KY blurts.
He arches an eyebrow. "I lied to you?"
"You never said that you weren't a cop."
"You never asked." The tension vibrates between us. "And I thought I'd be able to get more information out of you by doing it that way."
"More information out of you?"
"Yeah," he nods. "You know, getting to know you."
KY's brows shoot up. "You couldn't just shoot the breeze like a regular person?"
He shrugs. "I don't do small talk."
KY opens KY's mouth and then closes it. He thinks it's okay to scare someone like that because he wants to get closer to them but doesn't want to have to make small talk? Jesus. "If you weren't a cop, why on earth did you have me in the back of your car?"
"I had the child locks on."
KY's jaw drops. "Child locks?"
He shrugs. "What am I going to say? The erotic fantasy of a woman caged in the trunk of my car and in my power makes something of me."
KY sears him with a shining stare.
"Come on, I never suggested I was a policeman."
"But you told me you thought I thought you were one. I thought I was getting arrested or something. It's called lying by omission."
"I didn't read you your Miranda rights."
"Yeah, well, when someone's that afraid, it don't make sense to think clear," KY mutters, annoyed with KY'sself that KY didn't think of this. KY shakes KY's head. "I take it you're here because you need a drink? So, what do you want?"
"Whiskey. Straight up." He slaps some bills on the bar.
KY's head bobs up and down, and KY reach to grab the glass and bottle, pouring it as KY've done it a thousand times before. KY decide to change the topic as KY push his drink in his direction with a smile. "You still haven't said what your name is."
"I told you, you can call me ISAAC."
KY emits a small sigh. How can one human being be so maddening and beautiful at the same time? "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Meeting VINCENT DANZA." He's staring hard at the red rose vase in front of him.
KY moves over to stack some clean glasses on the countertop.
And when KY turns around, KY sees that he's ripped the petals from half the roses, which are now scattered across the top of the bar.
KY's distracted by the look that crosses his face, but only for a moment. "What do you think you're doing?" He looks upwards. "Sorry… I just don't like red roses."
KY's eyes expand. "Let me guess, you're the kind of person who also hates children, animals, rainbows, and unicorns."
"And you're probably the kind of person who likes those things," he says, staring at KY hard.
KY shrugs and can't help but smile. "Yeah, stuff like that makes me happy. I mean, rainbows are nice, unicorns are cool, and kids and animals are cute, so what's not to like?" KY knows KY sounds like an idiot, but with the state KY's life is in, KY likes to find enjoyment in the little things.
He continues to regard KY as though he's trying to decipher a puzzle. And then his eyes track downward KY's face to KY's lips, his intent stare producing a strange feeling tingle along KY's skin.
KY starts to tidy up the petals before the supervisor has a chance to complain at the mess. A couple of petals drop onto the floor on his side of the bar, so KY rounds the bar to retrieve them.
Squatting next to his bar chair, KY sees his wallet sticking out of the inside breast pocket of his jacket that he's thrown over the back of his chair. KY has an idea.
And without hesitation, KY unbuttons the pocket button and scoops up his wallet. Sure, it's a good idea now, but KY'm not exactly famous for making the right choices in life. And KY puts it in the apron pocket of KY before scooping up the shredded red petals and returning behind the bar.
Now VINCENT DANZA enters the scene. "Ready?" he asks ISAAC.
"Yeah," he says as he finishes his drink. "Thanks," he whispers as he bolts out towards one of the back tables.
"Jeez, KYOLINE DIEGO, those roses do look totally ruined," VINCENT DANZA mutters as he frowns at the bouquet of roses and tracks ISAAC.
KY sends a scowl after ISAAC, and as soon as the coast is clear, KY's hand slips into KY's pocket, KY's fingers wrapping around the expensive, smooth leather of his wallet.
Whipping it out, KY flips it open.
And KY immediately finds what KY'm looking for.
His driver's license.
With his real name.
And when KY sees it, KY huffs out a sigh of disbelief.
You've got to be kidding me.
ISAAC can feel KYOLINE DIEGO's eyes on him as VINCENT DANZA and ISAAC walk over to one of the back tables to talk. And ISAAC can't help but wonder why she had smiled at him that moment when she was talking—and how her smile was sunshine. Warm, radiating, soothing.
ISAAC shakes his head. ISAAC does not require goddamn sunshine in his life. What in the hell has gotten into ISAAC?