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The first thing Kate noticed when she woke up was that her head was pounding. She groaned rolling to the side, and attempting to crawl out of bed, the early morning sun streaming through her windows from where she obviously hadn’t drawn the curtains before she’d flopped into bed, stumbling around.
She tried to remember the series of events that led to her current headache. She’d gotten a promotion at work, that much she definitely remembered and Edwina had been so excited, she had as well, and begged her to go out for drinks.
“We are not sitting on this couch and watching Netflix, it’s Friday night, you just got promoted, we’re going out.” Kate had attempted to protest, but Edwina had fixed her with such a Maryesque look that Kate had closed her mouth. “Go and get ready, please.”
They’d gotten ready and arrived at the bar, and Kate vaguely remembered a startlingly handsome man with dark eyes and a charming smile who had caught her as she’d stumbled against him, and a taxi ride home, her head fuzzy, her stomach swooping, and then nothing.
“Well that turned into a bit of a mess.” Kate grumbled to Newton as she noticed him trotting along behind her, clearly hopeful for some food. He was smiling up at her, his paw on her foot, his eyes flicking to the cupboard where she kept his food.
Kate sighed, scratching his head as he started eating, pouring herself a glass of water, before turning to her bag, abandoned on the kitchen counter, her phone was there, covered in something very sticky that smelled like tequila and strawberries, so there’d been a margarita involved in her downfall. There were some texts from Mary waiting for a response, and an unknown number had called twice and left a text. Probably spam, she thought idly, and then she paused. Because sitting next to her house keys in the tiny clutch bag, was a pair of glasses. She took them out, peering curiously at the round frames, the tortoiseshell pattern shining in the morning sun.
“What the fuck?” Kate whispered to herself.
She’d never seen these before in her life, nor did she have any idea to whom they could possibly belong. Anxiety swirled in her stomach as she wracked her brain, a sudden flash of herself, very drunk, the memory very hazy, spying the glasses left on a table, her hand closing around them, her vision even more blurry as she wore them home in the taxi, her and Edwina laughing.
“Have you gotten a text yet?” Edwina’s voice called out, as she shuffled into the room looking irritatingly chipper for someone who had lined up shots on the bar and downed them one after the other like it was nothing.
Kate felt her brow furrow in confusion, still staring down at the mystery glasses. “From Mary? Yeah I haven’t read it though.”
Edwina tutted, “Not from Mum, from the guy.”
Kate’s head shot upwards, her mouth falling open. “What guy?!” A light panic in her chest as her mind raced. She didn’t remember any guy, there were none of the tell tale signs that she’d spent the night with anyone, and she certainly had no memory of having done so.
Edwina’s eyebrows were raised as she turned towards Kate, her hand outstretched towards the toaster. “Oh my god!” She guffawed after several seconds, her laughter a little manic floating across the kitchen. “You don’t remember do you?”
Kate’s brow furrowed, her head dropping to her hands with a groan, “I remember that you convinced me to go out for one drink.”
“I never said just one drink.” Edwina said with a little smirk. “If you assumed, that’s on you Katie Kat.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Will you just tell me what I’m supposed to remember?”
Edwina hummed as her toast popped, slowly buttering the bread. “Klepto Kate struck again.”
Kate groaned at the nickname. Perhaps it was true, that when she’s had a few drinks Kate had a slight tendency to… take things. Not in a big way, not like larceny just… Keno pencils, the occasional cigarette lighter abandoned on a table, once the reserved sign from the table they’d been sitting at. Drunk Kate was, unflattering, a little like a bird who’s spotted something shiny. And apparently this time she’d stolen a pair of glasses from an unsuspecting person who’d probably taken them off to clean them.
“Can we not call her Klepto Kate please?” Kate said quickly, still spinning the pair of glasses around in her hand.
“She is you. You can’t talk about her as if she’s another person.” Edwina laughed, jam joining the butter.
“Whoever said a drunk person’s actions are a sober person’s thoughts was a fucking idiot.” Kate scoffed. “I don’t even know who that woman is! She stole someone’s glasses this time!”
Kate’s phone buzzed out the table in front of her, the same unknown number, with another message. Kate frowned.
“Is that him?”
Kate’s stomach did an odd swoop. “Is that who?”
Edwina raised her eyebrows, taking a bite of her toast. “You should open the message.”
Kate stared at her sister, who stared boldly right back, completely undeterred by Kate’s sharp gaze, in a stand off. As always, Kate caved first. Reaching for the phone with a roll of her eyes, to disguise the uncomfortable roll in her stomach as she opened the messages, bypassing the missed calls.
Unknown Number (6:45am): Hey Catwoman, as much as I admire a woman who can take something without me even realising, I am going to need those glasses back.
Unknown Number (9:28am): I won’t call the police if you respond in the next few hours 🚔
Kate’s head shot up to Edwina, her heart hammering. “Edwina what did you do?!”
Edwina’s eyes lit up, snatching the phone from her hand, her eyes flicking over the messages, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Ooo he’s flirty, that’s a good sign!”
“I don’t even know who he is!” Kate said a little indignantly, “And he threatened to call the police! How did he even get this number?”
Edwina scoffed, “He’s flirting with you!”
Kate shook her head, ignoring the statement. “That doesn’t explain why he has this number.”
Edwina’s face twitched just a little. “So I maybe noticed that he was staring at you all night, and I noticed you snatched his glasses so I saw an opportunity.” Kate stared blankly at her, processing.
“I wrote your phone number on his hand.” Edwina clarified needlessly.
Silence echoed through their kitchen, anxiety swirling in the pit of Kate’s stomach, and then it burst out of her.
“Eddie! He could be an axe murderer!”
Edwina rolled her eyes, “He was too handsome to be an axe murderer.”
“Ted Bundy was handsome!”
“Do not use the Bundy excuse again, Kate. I can’t listen to it anymore.” Edwina dismissed, “He wasn’t an axe murderer. His brother told me so.”
“Oh! And why would he lie?!” Kate said wildly.
Edwina laughed, “Kate, honestly, he was kind of your type of cute, you told me that.” Kate felt herself flush, absolutely no memory of this. “And you took his glasses, at the very least, you have to give them back.” And then she was gone, disappearing back into her bedroom, Newton following behind her hopefully staring at the toast still in her hands.
Kate stared after her sister in disbelief. Edwina had really done it this time. Ever since Edwina had started dating her new boyfriend she’d been a little… determined was probably the best word for it, to find Kate the same kind of happiness.
“You deserve to be happy, Katie!” She’d said so many times and Kate had rolled her eyes.
“I don’t need a man to be happy.” Kate had called back.
“Of course you don’t, but it’s okay to want one.” Edwina had always had a way of being a little too astute, especially when it came to Kate. And apparently now, her sixth sense had determined that Kate’s soulmate was the victim of her crime.
Kate stared down at her phone, her thumbs hovering over the screen and took a deep breath. No point in drawing this out.
I am really really sorry. Please don’t call the police I’ll give them back I swear. I’ll drop them to your post box if you give me your address.
Kate pressed send, her thumbnail caught between her teeth, as three little dots indicating he was typing appeared, nerves fluttering in her stomach.
Unknown Number (9:47am): Oh she lives! No need for that, meet me at the same bar at 5. You can give them back then.
Kate stared at the screen, a little dumbfounded, her brow furrowing. He wanted to… meet her again? Or, for the first time she supposed. That seemed unlikely, confusing really.
I’d rather not. I don’t even know you.
He was typing again, straight back just like last time, almost as though he was waiting for her response.
Unknown Number (9:49am): Fair’s fair, Catwoman. I’m 6ft tall, dark hair, and I usually wear glasses, though I’ve misplaced them right now. My name’s Anthony Bridgerton. Is that enough of a description to give to the terrifying woman who interrogated me before giving me this number before you meet me?
Kate felt her lips tug upwards in a slightly confused smile, her heart racing a little. Anthony. She tried to remember the face the name belonged to, drawing a blank. His name was a little grandiose. As if he’d live in a stately home, ivy growing up the side of it, his smile bright. Before she knew what she was doing she’d typed.
My name’s Kate.
Unknown Number (9:50am): I know. But I like cat woman more. See you at 5, thief! PS: please send proof of life of my poor specs.
And laughing, Kate sent the picture.
At four o’clock Kate wasn’t feeling quite so blasé about it though.
“I’m not going!” Kate called to Edwina through her bedroom door, as she stared in the mirror.
“Oh so you’ve just spent the last 30 minutes ironing your dress to sit on the couch with Newton and Me?” Edwina!s voice shot back.
“I was ironing it because it was crinkled, not because I care what I look like.” Kate said a little defiantly. “It’s not like this is a date. I’m giving back some property, that I stole by the way!”
“He could have just asked you to drop them in his mailbox!” The door swung inwards, revealing an exasperated Edwina. Hands on hips in such a startling imitation of her mother that Kate took a slight step back. “But he asked you to meet him for a drink.”
“He asked me to meet him at the bar, not for a drink.” Kate rebutted.
Edwina threw up her hands “It was implied! Kate this is exhausting! He saw you last night and he asked you for a drink this afternoon, this is how dating works.”
Kate scoffed a little, picking up an eyeliner purely for distraction, “Maybe for you.”
Edwina sighed. “I think you need to be more realistic about what you bring to the table.”
“I think you’re trying to get me out of here so Matt can come round.” Kate deflected, hoping to throw Edwina off balance.
Edwina stared at her in the mirror, unflappable, “I’m going to his.”
Damn, she really was good. “I’m the one that argues for a living.”
“And I’d be much better at it.”
Kate sighed, sweeping past her sister into the living room a little dismissively, gathering up her keys, despite her pronouncement not five minutes ago.
“I hope you’re comfortable, confessing to Mary how you played a role in me being found in the boot of a car next week.” Kate said dryly.
“Imagine the scandal.” Edwina gasped with a smirk on her face, “The Aunties would love it though.”
Kate let out a small hum of confirmation, even as Edwina continued, “You’re meeting him for drinks in daylight. Unless you’re planning to go to a secondary location with him, you’re probably going to be fine.”
“You’re useless to me.” Kate said, snatching her keys from the table.
“Wait!” Edwina called out, catching Kate’s arm as she turned to walk away. “Where are the glasses?”
“In my bag.” Her voice coloured with confusion as Edwina, snatched her bag, taking the glasses out and sliding them onto the top of Kate’s head. Kate waited for an explanation, none was forthcoming.
“Off you pop.” Edwina said, tilting her head towards the door. Kate stared a little incredulously back at her. “Trust me, go or you’ll be late.”
Kate was still staring curiously back at Edwina as she opened the door, anxiety still building in her stomach.
“You look pretty, have fun!” Edwina’s voice called out just as the door closed.
By the time Kate walked into the tiny bar at quarter to five, she had formulated her plan. She was just going to slip the glasses to the bartender, and tell him to give them to Anthony. It would be easier, far less awkward, and honestly, probably better for everyone involved. There were three other people milling around, the bartender nowhere to be seen. Kate sighed, hovering nervously in front of a barstool, ignoring the Def Leppard song playing way too early in the day.
“Well well well.” A deep voice said behind her, “Don’t you know it’s terribly dangerous to return to the scene of a crime?”
Kate felt her breath catch with light panic, turning towards the voice, and her mouth nearly fell open. Anthony was the man who’d caught her as she’d been jostled past on the way in last night, his dark hair falling into his eyes, which now that she thought about it, had been wearing glasses, but she’d been a little too captivated by his eyes to notice especially when he’d smiled at her, a tiny crease forming between his eyebrows, just like he was now. Kate cleared her throat suddenly feeling even more nervous than she was when she walked in.
“Honestly, I was lured here.” Kate forced herself to say.
A sharp bark of a laugh escaped his chest, his eyes shining a little delightedly. “Even so, bold of you to show up.” He settled himself in one of the stools, perusing a cocktail menu. Kate continued hovering a little unsurely.
Anthony looked up at her, his eyebrows raised in confusion. “Aren’t you going to sit?”
“Oh I wasn’t going to stay.” The truth came out a little awkwardly, her fingers twisting together, a deep breath as she fumbled for his glasses still on the top of her head.
His face fell just slightly, before he shook his head and the odd look was gone. “Have a drink with me.”
It was a statement more so than a question, and Kate nearly sat in the chair instinctively, something deep inside her pulling her towards this startlingly attractive man who had made no move to take the glasses she was offering him.
“It’s the least you can do for leaving me blind all day.” his smile was back now, his hands finally taking the glasses from her, and instead of sliding them on his own face like she’d thought he would, he placed them carefully back on the top of her head, his fingers brushing her curls lightly. “You can give them back to me after we’ve had our drink.”
Kate sat in the stool next to him a little helplessly, crossing her legs as Anthony gestured to the reappeared bartender, catching his attention.
“Can I get an old fashioned and a-?” He gestured towards her, his eyebrow raised.
“Slow screw against the wall.”
Anthony let out an odd squeak, his fist clenching on the bar in front of her. Clearing his throat as the bartender set to work.
“That’s a drink.” His voice was a little rough.
Kate rolled her eyes, “I promise, it’s just a drink.”
“No judgement if it isn’t.” His smile was back, his fingers drumming a little on the bar.
“So, Catwoman, when you’re not downing tequila shots and committing petty theft what do you do with yourself?” He’d turned towards her, his head tilted curiously at her.
“Why do you keep calling me that?” It had bothered her since the first text, a flirty little nickname from someone she barely knew, and now that it had slipped from his mouth in his deep voice it had given her a small flutter in the stomach.
“A beautiful woman with a penchant for crime?” His lopsided smile was making her stomach clench uncomfortably.
“I don’t trust the opinion of a blind man.”
“Ahh but I have contacts.” He pointed to his eyes, a deep rich brown that were shining at her across the bar.
“Shame, I have a feeling these would look pretty good on you.” He slid her drink across the bar towards her, holding out a bill to the bartender, barely paying attention as he muttered his thanks.
“My Mum tells me I’m very handsome.”
Kate doubted his mother was the only person to have told him that, as he rested his chin on his hand, leaning toward her.
“Your mother and I obviously differ in opinion.” They didn’t, but there was no need for Anthony to know that. Kate really didn’t know what it was about him that made her want to keep him on his toes.
Anthony laughed again, taking a sip of his drink. “Sure you do, but you didn’t answer my question.”
Kate’s brow furrowed, “Why do you want to know?”
Anthony’s eyebrows raised his drink halfway to his mouth, “Call it curiosity.”
Silence sprung up between them, the music thrumming in the background the only thing breaking it up. Kate clicked her tongue.
“I’m a barrister.”
Anthony laughed brightly, his head thrown back, eyes delighted. Kate idly thought that she could hear that noise again and again and never get sick of it.
“A thief with a heart of gold. I knew you were Catwoman!”
“I don’t steal things!” Kate said a little indignantly, panic bubbling in her chest, “Sometimes when I have too much to drink, which isn’t frequently by the way, I take napkins and bar coasters, but I don’t steal things.” She was practically hissing by the end, leaning towards him, their knees nearly touching.
Anthony’s eyes were shining at her, “I’m not judging, Drunk Kate looked like fun.” His smile was bright again, “I think I like this Kate as well.”
Why was her heart hammering? She cleared her throat, ignoring the fact that the room suddenly felt far too warm.
“What do you do when you’re not stealing women’s phone numbers?”
His eyebrow quirked again adorably, “Hey, a tiny woman came up to me and told me she knew where my glasses were, asked me some very personal questions about myself and then wrote on my arm. Which I haven’t been able to get off by the way.” He pulled up the sleeve of his sweater to reveal a very toned forearm, Edwina’s neat handwriting looped over it in slightly faded felt tip.
Kate blanched a little, “My sister can be a little, intense.”
Anthony grinned again sending her heart a flutter. “You should finish your drink.”
Kate’s eyes widened, snapping out of the odd push and pull between them that they’d settled into so effortlessly, “Oh shit, right, sorry. You probably have to be somewhere.”
Anthony looked a little incredulous, “No, I just thought we could get dinner.”
Kate’s mouth fell open slightly, in surprise, and suddenly Anthony looked startled.
“Unless you don’t want to. Obviously, we don’t- I’m just… having kind of a good time and I thought that maybe you were too.” He ran his hand through his hair a little nervously.
And before she knew what she’d done Kate had downed the rest of her drink, and slid off the barstool, her hand outstretched towards him. Anthony stared up at her, his mouth open. And for one terrifying moment she thought she’d completely misread his statement. And then his smile grew and his hand in hers felt like a live wire as he tugged her from the bar.
“So, do you always steal men’s glasses when you go out or just hearts?” Anthony hummed as they sat across from one another at the restaurant.
Kate scoffed. “That’s an absolutely terrible line. Has that ever worked for you?”
Anthony laughed again, “I don’t know, would you believe no one’s ever taken my glasses to get my attention.”
Kate hummed, getting drawn into the odd tension building between them, something oddly emboldening about his eyes locked on hers. “And How would you say my play’s working out for me?”
“Well we’ve had dinner and I definitely want to do it again.” His eyes were steady on hers, his fingers drumming on the tabletop in front of her. Kate’s heart leapt, the butterflies in her stomach beating their wings intensely.
“I’ll add petty theft to my playbook then.” Kate said, it came out a little stilted, less confident than she wanted to be.
“Don’t worry, Catwoman, I’ll get you off.” Something deep inside her seemed to burn even as Anthony’s eyes widened. “I’m… also a barrister.” He finished awkwardly as he signed the cheque.
Kate’s eyebrows raised in surprise, her mind racing, heart hammering as she felt even bolder.
“Catwoman again hey? Do you want me to wear a catsuit?”
Anthony’s hand stilled, on his wallet, his voice a little choked, “Would… would you?”
“Not on the first date.”
“So this is a date?” His eyes were back on hers again, burning against her, flicking over her face.
“Do you want it to be?” She had to fight to keep her voice even, anxiety bubbling in her chest having shown even a little bit of her hand.
“Yes. I want this to be a date.” He didn’t even hesitate, a smile tugging his lips upwards, her lips tugging upwards to match. “Am I ever gonna get those back?” He gestured to the glasses still perched on her head.
Silence stretched between them for several more moments before Kate made her decision.
“You can get them from my bedside table tomorrow morning.”
“Well Well Well, we found that secondary location I see.” Edwina’s smug voice drifted down the corridor towards Kate who pulled back from Anthony, her head knocking against the door of her flat as Anthony crowded her against the door in a very thorough goodbye the following morning.
“Anthony, delightful to see you fully bespectacled again.” Edwina said casting Kate a very sly look as she shouldered past her through the door with a “Excuse me!”
Kate groaned as she fell back against the door when it closed again. “Well, she’s going to be insufferable today, and I have to be at brunch with our Mum in about an hour.”
Anthony chuckled pushing his hair back from his eyes. “I want to see you again tonight. Or tomorrow, or whenever you have time.”
Kate bit back her smile, “Tomorrow sounds good.” Their lips met.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. We’ll go to dinner.” Their lips met again. His smile a little disarming as he pulled back and Kate couldn’t stop herself from reaching up to adjust his glasses. “Hands off those. I don’t have my contacts anymore.”
Kate rolled her eyes, pushing against his chest. “Get out of here.”
Anthony walked backwards down the hall. “Until tomorrow, Catwoman.”
And when Kate returned home after brunch to find two bouquets at the front door she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she read the card.
Catwoman,
I’ll see you tomorrow and you can work on stealing hearts.
-Anthony
Edwina cackled a little madly as she looked down at the cad on the second bouquet addressed to
Tiny Interrogator with the message that read
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.