Free Heading East (Part 2 of 2) (The True North Series) by June Gray Page B

as your territory every time a man comes near me, is that it?” she asked, her eyes flashing in anger.
    “Naturally.”
    She rolled her eyes. “You’re not about to do the whole ‘you’re mine’ spiel, are you? Because that shit is not going to go over well with me.”
    “I would never say that. You’re not an object to be claimed—”
    I stopped when hands clamped over my eyes and a voice behind me said, “Boo!”
    I pulled the hands away from my face and turned to find a beautiful petite woman. “Stella,” I said, bending down to kiss her on the cheek. “How have you been?”
    “Been fabulous!” She nudged me out of the way and smiled at Kat. “Hi, how are you?” she asked, holding out a tiny feminine hand.
    Kat glanced at me before saying, “Good, thanks.”
    “I’m Stella. Luke and I have known each other for years.”
    Another glance in my direction. “Kat.”
    “I love your dress!” Stella said. “Is it Magaschoni?”
    Kat frowned. “No. It’s my own design.”
    Stella smiled widely. “Oh, you’re a designer? It’s wonderful.” She appraised a bewildered Kat, admiring the dress. “I saw a dress that looked similar at Neiman Marcus last week. I almost bought it in blue.”
    I decided to jump in when I noticed Kat’s smile getting thinner and thinner. “Kat is attending the Fashion Institute of New York.”
    Stella, who was always so enthusiastic that she often appeared fake to the uninitiated, said, “Congratulations. FINY is a very competitive school.”
    “Thanks.”
    “How do you two know each other?” Stella, ever inquisitive, asked. “Are you two dating?”
    Knowing Kat’s eyes were on me, I shook my head. “Nope,” I said, giving Kat a pointed look. “We’re only friends.”
    I swear I felt an icy blast from Kat after hearing my answer. “It was nice meeting you,” she said to Stella. “I’m going home,” she added and left without once looking at me.
    Stella turned to me with a knowing look. “She apparently disagrees.”
    “Kat is more than a friend.”
    “Obviously.”
    “It was great to see you, Stel,” I said, bending down to give her a farewell kiss on the cheek. “Tell your husband I said hello.”
     
    I caught up with Kat halfway down the block. She had taken off her shoes and was stomping down the sidewalk in a hurry, no doubt trying to get as far away from me—and this lifestyle I’d introduced her to—as possible.
    I caught her by the elbow. “Kat. Just wait.”
    “Go back in there.” When she looked up, the expression on her face was not what I expected. Instead of anger, I saw defeat. “I know the way back.”
    I held her by the shoulders and peered into her face. “Kat, Stella and I have been friends for several years. She’s married to a college friend of mine.”
    “She called my dress a knock-off,” Kat said, pulling at its hem once again.
    “That’s not what she said. Believe it or not, she is one of the most genuine, kindest people I know. There aren’t very many people like her in New York.”
    “I still don’t like her.”
    “Because you thought she and I had slept together,” I said simply.
    “No—”
    “Face it, Kat, when I told her that you and I were just friends, you were hurt,” I said. “You know how I know?”
    She blinked before nodding. “Because you felt the same way when I told that guy.”
    I slid my hands up her neck and cupped her jaw, tilting her face up to mine. “Kat,” I whispered, enjoying the simple joy of looking at her face. “Do you really just want to be my friend?”
    She blinked up at me for several excruciating seconds before finally saying, “No.”
    The tightness in my chest eased. “Then why are we playing these stupid games?” I asked, bending closer until our lips were nearly touching.
    “I want to be with West.”
    I pulled back, confused. “I am West.”
    She took advantage of my momentary confusion and stepped away. “No. That back there,” she said, motioning to the