Author's Note: I'm very sorry for the longest-ever delay between chapters! This is another very long one, and it completes John's one-on-one trips with his girls. I hope you'll find the wait was worth it. For me, this is a very special chapter with Katie, cementing her place in the group. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
* * *
Despite being an objectively hard-partying marathon, the weekend in Napa with Kat had the opposite effect on me that I expected. It was like when I had sex. I came out more energized and focused than before. That's how our trip had been. I was ready to go right away. We had a lovely week at home and, as had become the pattern between getaways, enjoyed a quiet few days as a family.
When we returned, too, Rita had some news. It turned out that the midday meteorologist at KNBC was taking a medical leave of absence for six weeks, and they needed someone to fill in. Their morning weather girl was out on maternity leave, so that put them in a serious pinch. One of the producers was friends with Rita's old producer in Houston, who had suggested maybe Rita could fill in temporarily.
"I'm not sure if I want to go back to it," Rita said when she brought it up. "But there is kind of an appeal to it."
"It's such a big market!" Kat said. "What an opportunity!"
"I've got a few days to think about it," Rita said. "Let's talk about it when you get back, John."
"Good idea," Kat agreed.
"We don't want anything to disrupt your big weekend!" Rita said, directing her attention to Katie.
"Aw, that's so sweet," Katie said. "But it's not a disruption at all. We can talk about it."
"No, no, this is a next-week problem," Rita said.
"Yeah, you two need to get out of here!" Jess chimed in. "Have fun! Make us jealous!"
"God, I miss Vegas," Kat said.
"We all miss Vegas," Rita said.
"Have you still not told Katie where you're staying?" Jess asked.
"You know me," I said, grinning. "I have to have surprises."
"You're so fucking cruel," Katie said, matching my smile.
"It's your turn, Katie," I said. "I think the other three have all been through my Vegas surprise trips!"
"More than once," Rita said, nodding.
"There's nothing better, sweetie," Kat said.
"Just sit back and enjoy it," Jess encouraged her.
"What if I want to sit on top of it and enjoy it?" Katie said playfully.
"Get it whatever way you want it!" Kat said with a laugh.
And off we went, repeating for the fourth and final time the scene of three girls waving as the black town car turned around and disappeared into the Los Angeles day. A Thursday through Sunday weekend in Vegas was ideal. You could relax somewhat Thursday night and ramp up the partying Friday and Saturday nights. There was nothing quite like being able to indulge in anything you wanted when Vegas was at its most packed, energetic, and raunchy. And that was the essence of my plan for our getaway.
"This feels so weird," Katie said as the car wound its way toward Burbank. "In a good way. I've just gotten so used to us being a single unit."
"It's important to connect one-on-one," I told her, taking her warm, delicate hand in mine.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited," she said. "I can't believe I get you all to myself for three nights!"
"I hope it blows you away," I said. "I've got a lot planned for us."
"If nothing else, I'll blow you away anytime you want it," Katie said and licked her lips.
She had a knack for double-entendres and racy banter, and it was one of the things I liked best about her. Katie had an edge. Maybe it was because she was the youngest and newest of my girlfriends, but she wasn't as at-ease as Kat, Jess, and Rita. She sometimes seemed like she had something to prove, even though she didn't. One of the key aspects of the weekend was to drive home to Katie that she didn't need to feel like an underdog. She was a co-equal part of our family.
"You know, occasionally Jess and I will make bets about how many times she can get me off," I said.
"I know," Katie said quickly. "She's told me about that."
"Oh, yeah?" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"Yeah," she confirmed. "She told me you almost got to seventeen in Cabo."
"When did you talk about that?" I said, surprised in a good way.
"When she was riding my face while you and Kat were in Napa," she said, clearly relishing the fact that my jaw had dropped.
"I should assume you girls are up to naughty things even if I'm not around," I said.
"Oh, we are, baby," Katie said. "You have no idea."
"Maybe you'll tell me?" I said.
"Maybe," she said. "I know how much you like to hear about it."
"I love story time," I said, using the term Kat had coined for it.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Katie said, leaning closer to me.
I couldn't help but notice her tits falling freely beneath the fabric of her light, white spaghetti-strap top. Her nipples were crinkled and hard from the town car's air conditioning. Her legs, largely exposed because she wore only mid-thigh black shorts, were dappled by goosebumps.
"I love secrets," I said.
"Your girls might fuck more when you're not around than when you are," she said. "We can't keep our hands off each other."
"Maybe I should install video cameras like we had at the Hooker House," I said.
"Maybe you should," she said. "I bet we are really fucking hot when we play together."
"I know you are," I said.
Katie also had a knack for surprising me. She was settling into her new life, and I never tired of her relentless devotion toward me. We had always had a connection with one another, from the time she came aboard Infinity. But her adoration of me never wavered; in fact, it only seemed to increase. As time went on and our relationship grew, it became more than devotion. It blossomed beyond that, but her singular focus on me and on us was still a compelling driver of our love.
"Thank you for this, John," she said.
"Everyone is getting a trip, babe," I said with a laugh.
She rolled her eyes cutely.
"You know what I mean," she said. "You've made more happen for me than I ever dreamed possible. I would do anything to thank you for it. Literally anything."
"Hmm, what a realm of possibilities!" I said.
"I mean it," she said.
We moved closer together, and I stroked her hair.