Between the meeting with my mom's doctor and wanting to hang out with Tina until l was certain she was feeling better, things ran a lot longer than anticipated. So, I call instead of texting Cat, since I'm finally on my way home.

"Hey? So, you on your way?" Cat asks the moment the phone picks up.

"Yeah. Sorry things took longer than I expected."

"Everything okay?"

I wasn't sure how to answer that. They were, but they weren't. Tina is still hurting though she feels better and my mom is safe, but I still have no idea how she is doing.

"As good as it can be, I guess."

"That doesn't sound very reassuring," Cat observes.

"I know, but it's all I got to say on the subject. My mom, I didn't even get to see because the doctor didn't feel it was a good idea. He didn't get into it, but he said she was in a bad way after she came back yesterday."

Cat is silent for a moment. "It makes sense, though. Considering all she's been through."

Considering what I put her through... my mind wants to blame me, but I push that thought aside.

"And Tina?"

"Physically, she's doing better. They will hopefully release her soon. She's doing that well with her P.T. but she's hurting... you know emotionally."

"She's lucky she has you," Cat states.

I know how she means those words but they come out in a flat tone, telling me Cat still isn't thrilled with this new relationship between Tina and me. Something I know I must address but not now. I'm emotionally spent at the moment.

"How far are you from home?"

"I'm still about 30 minutes or so," I tell her.

"Okay, well then why don't you let me go and I'll get dinner started?" Cat offers.

"That's unnecessary, we can just order in. I feel bad putting you to work. It's been a crazy couple of days."

"No worries. I like to cook, remember. I find it relaxing. So, I'll see you soon, okay?"

I feel she's trying to rush me off the phone but shrug and say, "Okay."

I stare at the blank screen of my cell for a second or two. Something is up. That conversation just felt weird. I close my eye for a second but remembering what happened with Tina and knowing I'm not driving; I open a book app on my phone and start reading some backlogged comics I haven't gotten to yet. It's been a while, but they are entertaining enough to keep me awake and therefore in one piece to arrive home.

The taxi stops outside of my apartment and I let out an audible sigh. It's so good to be home. I grab my bag and Cat's that I picked up from the house since I don't see us going back there soon, if ever again. I heave my duffle over my shoulder and drag her case up the steps before knocking on the door. I left my spare key at the house when I expected Cat to be staying there on her own. I didn't want her to think I'd be dropping in unannounced, especially if my presence wasn't welcome.

Cat opens the door and throws herself at me. I have to drop the case and duffle to catch her or she would have tumbled us both back into the hall. I laugh against her lips as she kisses me. "I missed you, too."

"Seriously, Cat? Get a room, you two. Please, before I lose my appetite."

Cat reluctantly pulls away. I miss her lips already. William is standing behind her, looking smug.

"Nice to see you, too," I say, picking up the baggage and pulling it inside so I can shut the door.

"Thanks for noticing," William says with an eye roll.

That wasn't all I notice, though. Upon stepping inside, I realize it's back, all of it. They brought back everything I took from the apartment. I look from Cat to William.

"It was all her idea," William says, pointing to Cat, and I'm astounded.

"So, this is what that smile was about?" I ask, my heart overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean," Cat says with a sly grin.

I pull her back into my arms and kiss her again. I can't believe she spent her entire afternoon putting my life back together for me. The symbolism, even if she had not meant it, was not lost on me.

"Hey, I helped too! Where's the love?" William pouts.

I pull away from Cat and wave for William to join the hug, and he does. We all stood there hugging for several seconds.

"Thank you," I tell them both once we all broke free. "I can't believe you did this for me."

"I remembered your face when we first walked in here yesterday. You looked so... misplaced. The same way you looked when I packed your stuff away when I moved my stuff in. I couldn't bear it. So, I called William to help me get your stuff out of the storage unit. Since he still had the key, it made it super easy."

"Well, not that easy, but with the help of Cat's sorority and my drama club we managed," William fills in, never being one to let a good deed go unrecognized.

"Do you have any idea how much this means to me? It feels so good to be home. Now I just need to get out of this damn suit."

"You are looking mighty fine though," William says, giving a once over that almost had me blushing.

"Yeah, yeah," Cat says, frowning at William for flirting with me, which makes me laugh. Cat pushes me towards the bedroom, "Go take a shower and get dressed. By the time you're done, dinner should be ready."

It all sounds so wonderful, especially the food part, as I had skipped lunch and am starving. I planned on being quick, but once inside the shower it feels too good. I spend time just letting the water wash over me, closing my eyes and allowing the heat to penetrate my skin.

I step into the bedroom and smile when I notice all three stuffed animals are back in their place on our bed. The bear, the baby tiger, and the kitten were staring at me as I sat on the edge of the bed. I picked up the tiger and played with its fur. Cat opens the door and smiles at the image I must make sitting with a towel around my waist holding a stuffed toy.

"Where's a phone when you need one?" she says, confirming my thoughts.

I pose, turning the tiger around and hiding behind his ears so only my eyes are showing and her smile widens. "Stop. You keep that up and William will wonder what happened to us both as dinner gets cold."

"He told us to get a room?" I tease and she laughs. I so love the sound of her laugh. I toss Cat the cub and take advantage of her momentary distraction to pull her towards me. I'm impressed she still caught the toy and hug them both close against my body.

"Alex," Cat says almost as a reprimand, but her eyes tell me a completely different story.

I grab her by her nape and pull her down for a kiss. She doesn't even hesitate, she goes full-on and I growl and fall back with her onto the bed. Cat laughs. "Alex, we really have to..."

I silence her with another kiss. Grab the tiger cub and place him back with his family before I roll her over, trapping her beneath me. Her eyes are wide with desire as my hands freely caress her body. She squirms, "Alex..."

Her back arches as I fondle her breasts. "You are being so unfair," she tells me as I slide my hands under her shirt and she sucks in her breath. I wish she was wearing a dress because I swear, I would take her right here and now, but I know she right, we have company.

Still, I take a few more liberties. Wanting to drive Cat crazy, with need like she does me. Taunting her with my lips, my hands, my near nakedness. I can see when she's close to not giving a damn that William is on the other side of that door, and then I stop.

"You are so mean," she tells me, and I pull off my towel and strut around the room naked, enjoying how it draws her eyes to me. She can't look away.

"Not mean, Cat," I say, pulling on some boxers. "I promise to finish what I've started the moment we're alone again."

Cat looks at the alarm clock on the bedside table. "How soon can we ask William to leave without being rude?"

I laugh and pull on my T-shirt. "Not soon enough, but he is our best friend."

"True," Cat agrees but saunters over to me as I pull up my jeans. Her hand delves into the front of them as her other hand pulls me down for a passionate kiss. I sigh against her lips when she stops and turns to leave.

"I'll be waiting for you," Cat says as she reaches the door.

"I may need a minute," I say, looking pointed at my pants that I have zipped over an obvious bulge and she laughs.

"See you soon," Cat says with a wink before she slips out the door.

"Is he coming?" I hear William complain.

"In a minute," Cat tells him.

"Puhleeze, if he's as turned on as you look right now, tell him not wait on my behalf. It's nothing I haven't seen before."

I laugh, and Cat shuts the door between us. Leave it to William to state things as they are. It took more than a minute, but I finally join them for dinner. Cat made a beautiful meal, salad, stir-fry with rice. My mouth is salivating before I even take the first bite.

"This is good, Cat. You know you need to show me how to cook," William says and Cat's eyes go wide and I nearly choke on my rice.

"What?" William questions, offended by our reactions.

"You? Cook?" I inquire.

Cat grins. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain someone, would it?"

Now it's William's turn to go wide-eyed. "No!" he too quickly affirms.

I remember Cat mentioning there was someone in William's life now. Someone she wondered if he was getting serious about.

"What's his name?" I ask, taking a sip of iced tea. I know it's just my imagination, but it tastes better being in my favorite manga glass. Cat must have gone food shopping too while I was out.

"Name? There's no one. No need for names," William says but looks pointedly at Cat like he's annoyed with her for bringing the subject up.

"What?" Cat sadys, "It was just a question. I'll show you whatever you would like to learn, for whatever reason you'd like to learn it. How's that?"

He still looks irritated.

"So, does this mean you're not going to tell me about the new guy?" I ask, right before shoveling another forkful of food in my mouth. I've missed Cat's cooking. This is so good.

"There is no new guy," William says defensively.

I raise my eyebrow at him.

"Really!" William states.

I shrug. "It's a shame. If there was a new guy. I'd really like to meet him."

"Really?" William says.

"You sound surprised?" I ask, wondering.

"I am."

"Why? I think it be great if you found someone. Someone you enjoyed spending time with. Someone you could grow to..."

"NO one can replace your brother!"

William cut me off before I said love, throws his napkin on the table, and stands up. "How can you even suggest...?!"

I don't take the bait and stand up too. I don't want to encourage a debate or an argument about this.

"All I'm saying is if you're concerned about how I would feel about the situation. You needn't be. I know you love my brother. I know you will always love my brother."

I meet his eyes when I say, "But my brother is gone, and if you have a chance to be happy. I know he'd want you to take it."

William frowns at me. "Nothing is going on. End of story."

"Fine then," I say and motion for William to sit down and he does but keeps staring at me off and on as he continues to eat.

"Did I tell you I have a sister?"

Now it's William's turn nearly to choke on his rice. "Sister? Who had the affair? Your mother or your father? It was your father, wasn't it? You can't spend that much time away from home and not expect things to happen. Who is she?"

I smile at the soap opera twist William created. "Tina, but neither of my parents had an affair. They adopted her."

Cat comes out with, "Dun, dun, duuuun!"

And I can't help but laugh as I guess my statement was even more of a twist.

William looks from Cat to me and back again. "You're both serious," he says, stunned.

"Yeah, I think my Dad may have thought because he was ill and needed someone to care for my mom that Tina was a good fit since she was caring for them both, anyway."

"I know someone else she may like to care for?" William mumbles and Cat's head shoots up.

"Excuse me?"

William, never one to back down from the inappropriate, just held his hands up in surrender. "I'm not saying anything."

"To hell you didn't," I say frustrated, this is the last thing I need Cat believing. "She's my sister, she also has a fiancé in the military, so whatever thoughts you have in that head of yours, forget about them. It's a fantasy created by you and you alone."

William shrugs. "Whatever you say, but I'd keep my eye on Slippery When Wet Tina."

I clench my teeth and scowl at William. I can't believe he brought that up. Is he trying to punish me? What the hell did I do to him?

Cat is now going back and forth between the both of us. "Someone had best explain that last statement or there is going to be hell to pay."

William raises an eyebrow and looks pointed at me. Suddenly, it would seem, he's not talking anymore. Bastard.

I let out a sigh and focus on Cat. "I burned my foot and was running water over it when Tina came into the bathroom, startling me. That's how I broke my phone. I fell into the tub and in her efforts to keep me from falling in, I ended up taking Tina into the tub with me."

"Oh," is all Cat says. She is pushing her food around her plate like she's lost her appetite, and I want to wring William's neck right now.

"Cat, there is nothing going on between Tina and me."

"That's certainly true," William says to Cat, "At least on, Alex's side of things."

Both Cat and I glower at him. "What? I call it as I see it. That girl is trouble, with a capital T and that stands for Tina," William replies, smiling at his own joke he just made but relents when he sees Cat looks upset.

He rests his hand over hers. "Oh, come on, you no more have to worry about Alex with Tina, then he has to worry about you with Liam."

My head shoots up. "What does this have to do with Liam?" I ask.

"Nothing!" William says. "I'm just saying it's obvious that Liam still wants Cat but you don't have to worry about her going astray just like even though Tina has a thing for you, Cat should know where your loyalties lie."

"Out! NOW!" Cat and I both look at each other as we said this to William in unison.

"Okay! Fine! I'm just being truthful with you both, but if you can't handle it. If you'd rather live in the dark and in doubt. Far be it from me to interfere," William stands up grabs his coat, shrugging into it before he opens and slams the door shut behind him.

Cat blinks a few times as she stares at the door. "Well, this didn't go at all as I planned."