Switchblade

Chapter 55: How Rumors Get Started

Tati heard the door open and thought it was perfect timing while she iced the last cupcake.

"You're just in time. I'm icing the last one." she said happily and finished squeezing the icing pouch.
She looked towards the entrance and saw him there changing his shoes.

She noticed the flowers in his hand. Her eyebrows furrowed.
He was looking at the twelve cupcakes she'd made.
He walked over to her with his eyes on them.

"Flowers?" she asked while she looked at them. They were even prettier than the other ones she had but the bouquet was smaller.
He handed them to her. "Yours." And looked back at the cupcakes.
She snickered. "Again?"
"You don't want them?" he asked and looked back at her.
"No, I do. I just wasn't expecting them."

She looked back at him and watched him stare at the cupcakes.
"You can eat one, you know. I promise it's not poisoned." she scoffed. She often had to tell him that and each time she said it as a tease but he wouldn't eat what was in front of him until he heard her say it.
He grabbed one and unwrapped it then started walking off.
"Where are you going?" she asked from behind.
"I'll be leaving again in a few minutes." he stated.
She stared at him in confusion.
He stopped walking after taking a bite of the cupcake.

"This is good." he stated.
"Thank you."
He turned around and looked at her. "Did you make this from scratch?"
Tati bursted out laughing.

Killian's eyes widened and the cupcake dropped to the floor.
Her laughing immediately stopped.

"What'd you do to it?" he asked.
Her heart raced faster.
Her eyes looked down at the switchblade he held flicked open at his side. He maneuvered so fast it was frightening.
"I didn't do anything..." she promised.
"Why are you laughing?" his eyes stared widely into her soul and she was scared.
She started taking steps back until she bumped into the counter. "You...have something on your nose..."
His brows furrowed.
He wiped the tip of his nose and saw the icing that came off.
He finished wiping off the rest then looked back at her.
She hadn't noticed how wet her eyes had gotten or how heavily she was breathing.
Killian saw how afraid she looked.
He closed the blade and put it back in his pocket.

Tati slowly began to calm down. Still taking deep breaths.
He started to walk over to her and she just watched his every move.

She flinched when he reached for her but he gently grabbed her and pulled her close to him.
He hugged her and her head rested against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I scared you." he stated.
Tati didn't respond.
He kissed into her cheek a few times. "I didn't mean to."
He pulled away and looked at her.
She stared at the floor.
He lifted her head as he thought of something.

"The guys wanted to go to the lounge. Do you wanna go? Just to get out of the house." he offered. A hand cupped her cheek.
She thought about it for a second then nodded.
He kissed her forehead. "Go get ready."
She walked away from him and headed to her room.

He saw her leave the kitchen then looked back at the cupcakes.

He began quickly searching through his entire kitchen. Cabinets. Drawers. Pantry. Looking for anything suspicious that he may have not noticed before.
He grabbed a cupcake and tore it apart. Only to find a spongy and sweet interior.
He finally relaxed.

He saw the cupcake that he'd dropped onto the floor earlier then grabbed a napkin. He wet it to clean it up.

Tati dressed in just sweatpants, a tank top, and a jacket before walking back to the front of the house.

She saw Killian throwing something away.
"I'm ready." she stated.
"Let's go." He grabbed his keys and headed towards the door.
On her way, Tati noticed the excessive crumbs on the pan of cupcakes.
She looked towards Killian only to see that he'd walked out of the house already.

She put on her slippers and followed him.

~•~

Killian and Tati walked through the club to head into the lounge.

They were spotted.

Suki rushed back into the dressing room.

"Oh my god!" she said loudly.
"What?" the girls asked out of order.
"Killian's here and he brought Tati."
"What?" Morgan asked.
"I just saw them! They walked in together and went into that vip lounge."
"I thought she finally went back home and that's why we stopped seeing her." said Alana.
"Apparently not because I know what I saw. And it was her and him together." she stated.
Taylor just stared at Suki as she listened.
"Then why'd she stop working?" Kasey wondered.
"Who knows?" Suki shrugged and took her seat at the long vanity. "They're kind of hot together though. Even though she was dressed in sweatpants." She started adding more lipstick.
"He kidnapped her. She's not gonna date him. He probably just forces her to go wherever he goes so she doesn't run. It's been forever since we've seen him too." Taylor argued.
"Maybe. I don't know. But he's hot. She's hot. Together they're hot."
"I guess." Taylor said and applied an eyelash.

"I'd expect you to be more excited to see her. Weren't you two like besties?" Nikki asked.
"I mean she worked here and so did I. We were acquaintances." Taylor stated.
"I'm sure it would hurt her feelings to hear you say that." Suki stated.
Taylor rolled her eyes and continued fixing her lash.
"I bet you're just scared she's stealing your man." Mariah teased.
"She's not stealing shit. She hates him." Taylor stated.
"Yea, and Taylor and Killian aren't even dating anyway." Suki added.
"Yea." Taylor shrugged.
"I bet he fucks Tati before the month is over." Alana stated and fixed her hair.
Taylor stared at her through the mirror.
"Ugh, I wanna place bets on it but we'd never find out since she doesn't work here anymore." Mariah stated.
"Yea..." said Taylor.

Tati currently sat at the table surrounded by alcohol while she played a practice round of poker with Dominic. The rest of the men watched and drank as well.

"You look nervous, Dominic." she stated and downed another shot.
"I ain't nervous."
"You sure? Think I see a bead of sweat by your hairline." she teased.
He scoffed.
"She's gettin' good." Kolson admitted.
"She's bluffing." Dominic argued.
"If you meant that you'd be all in." she stated.
Dominic stared at her.
She wasn't budging.
He looked back at his hand.

Then at the guys.

They stared back at him.
"You gonna make a move or what?" Kolson asked.
"I fold."
He placed his cards down and everyone saw the flush he had.
They looked at Tati.
She placed her cards down.

Nothing but a 7 of hearts, 9 of clubs, 2 of clubs, king of spades, and a 7 of diamonds.

Dominic groaned and Tati laughed as she took the chips.

Silas looked at Tati. "You're not to be trusted." he stated.
She acted offended.

"Can you get me a glass of whiskey?" Niko asked.
"I don't work here anymore."
Niko looked at Killian who just downed another shot. "Your legs don't work?" Killian asked him.
Niko didn't respond and just stood up to walk to the bar.
"Bring the bourbon!" Dominic commanded.
"Shut up." Niko stated.
Tati poured herself another shot.