Chapter 5: Valentine’s Day

Feb. 14th (Monday)

I was waiting for the donuts at the Café like usual when a woman that looked about my age with long curly blonde hair, 5'7, and skinny stopped on my left side.

"I've seen you around. You work at Fire and Stone right?" The woman asked.

I nodded my head.

"I'm Mia." She said.

"Katherine." I said and she nodded her head.

"Are you dating Callen because I've seen you two together a lot?" She asked.

"No." I said shaking my head.

"Good because him and Gavin don't have the best reputation. You seem like a great woman and they would bring you down if you dated one of them. Working for them is fine." She said.

"Noted." I said before grabbing the donuts when my name was called.

Daisy was behind the counter when I got to the parlor and Gavin was setting things up but I didn't see Callen.

"Hey." I said as I walked inside.

"Hey." They both said smiling at me.

I sat everything on the counter before going behind it to my regular spot.

"Big plans with Harrison?" I asked as Daisy grabbed a coffee and a donut.

"He has something planned but he isn't telling me and he knows I hate surprises." She said and I nodded my head.

"I don't have plans yet." Gavin said.

"Yeah because girls are smart enough to see right through your act." Daisy said and Gavin flipped her off as he leaned against the counter.

"Your Prince Charming is going to be late. He had something to do." Gavin said looking at me.

"He's not my Prince Charming. We aren't dating." I said before drinking my coffee then they both gave me a look.

"We aren't. 1 kiss doesn't mean we are dating." I said since we haven't kissed since that one time.

"Okay." He said before walking away as a customer walked in.

"Just have a seat Jonah. Callen hasn't made it back yet." Daisy said when Callen's first customer showed up an hour and a half later.

"Not a problem. You two have big plans for Valentine's Day?" He asked sitting down in a chair.

"She does. I don't." I said.

"A girl like you without plans. That's a shame." He said smiling at me.

"Don't flirt with Kat." Daisy said.

"Why not? She's single." Jonah said as the door to the tattoo parlor opened and closed.

"Hey Callen." Jonah said and Callen gave him a look before walking towards the counter with a vase of a dozen red roses in his right hand along with a small bag from a local jewelry store.

"When did you get a girlfriend? I thought Shelby and you broke up." Jonah said and Daisy signed it.

Callen quickly turned around to look at Jonah.

"Jonah, shut up if you want him to do your tattoo." Gavin said from his workstation.

"Okay. My bad don't mention the ex got it but still wasn't aware of you dating someone new." Jonah said.

Callen turned and started walking towards the counter.

"Did you know about this?" I whispered pulling Daisy closer to me as Callen got closer to us.

"Girl, you know he likes you and he has made it clear to all of us aka his friends that you two are a couple so you are off the market so to speak." Daisy whispered.

Callen walked behind the counter then turned my stool to face him. He held the vase and the small bag from the jewelry store out towards me. I took it then placed it on the counter behind me.

He signed Happy Valentine's Day.

I signed thank you.

He signed this is just phase 1. Don't make plans for tonight.

He walked away after that and Daisy smiled really big.

Jonah nodded his head before following Callen.

"You could have given me a heads up and when did he tell you guys this?" I whispered to Daisy.

"After you two kissed and I knew if I gave you a heads up you would have told Callen not to get you anything. He likes you Kat. Give him a chance." She whispered.

I got the jewelry box out of the bag and opened it to see a beautiful silver bracelet with a heart charm attached to it.

"Does he need to spell it out anymore for you?" She whispered touching the heart charm and giving me a look.

"We work together Daisy and guys like him aren't going to want a girl like me for long." I whispered.

"We grew up the same way Kat and Harrison and me have been dating for 3 years now. Yes working together might complicate things if you two break up but what if you don't? I say go for it and if he makes you happy when you are around him then date him plus forget all the negative thoughts in your head. Callen is a sweetheart with a big heart and yes he is in a MC as you found out but that doesn't make him bad." She whispered.

"Plus he is fiercely protective of his friends and family so just think how protective he would be of you." She whispered.

"I need to go." I whispered before grabbing my purse and walking away.

I went straight home and went to my room to think about everything.

Callen's POV

It took everything in me to not drop everything and follow Katherine when she left the tattoo parlor. When she wasn't back by lunch time and I noticed she left what I got her, I asked Daisy what happened. Daisy said she told Katherine about me telling everyone she was off limits and went on and on about why Katherine should give me a chance. I nodded my head before going upstairs to my apartment to eat. I texted Katherine but she didn't text back.

Katherine's POV

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to the doorbell ringing then I looked to see it was 7:00. I knew it was probably Callen so when I got downstairs, I opened the door without looking out the small window to see who it was. Callen was wearing a pair of black pants and a white button up shirt. He had his hair down instead of the top half up in a ponytail like usual. I motioned for him to come inside and he walked inside. After I locked the door, I turned around to see him leaning against the wall staring at me.

I signed let me go change then we can leave.

He grabbed my right arm when I went to walk past him then I looked at him.

He signed are you okay?

I nodded my head. He gave me a look before letting go of my arm then I walked away and went upstairs.

I changed into a long dark blue dress with a high neckline and I put my hair up in a ponytail.

We ended up going to Once Upon a Feast (the owner is a huge fairytale person) which is a very popular restaurant and hard to get a reservation. The waiter sat us at a table near the back of the restaurant. I grabbed a menu then looked at Callen. I waved my hand in front of his menu then he looked up at me.

I signed how did you manage to get a reservation?

He smiled before signing I know the owner and I promised to give him a free tattoo.

I nodded my head.

He signed did you not like what I got you earlier?

I signed the flowers were beautiful and the bracelet was a little too much Callen.

He signed too much; how?

I signed it looked expensive.

He signed so.

I shook my head before looking at my menu.

He grabbed the menu from me.

He signed don't do that. You left the shop earlier without the stuff I brought for you and I had no clue if you wanted to go on this date or not. What am I doing wrong here Katherine?

I signed nothing; they were perfect Valentine's Day gifts to give your girlfriend but we aren't dating Callen.

He gave me a look.

He signed so what do you call this?

The waiter came back after that and we ordered drinks but I told him we needed more time to figure out what we wanted to eat. When he brought the drinks, we ordered our food then he left.

I looked at Callen to see he was already looking at me.

I signed you sure you want to date me and not someone else?

He signed yes I'm sure Katherine. I like you which you already know. So again, what are you calling this?

I signed a date.

He smiled before signing there you go, so you are my girlfriend and we are dating.

He signed since we are dating I'm going to want to kiss you. Are you going to kiss me back and close your eyes when I kiss you?

I sighed before shaking my head at him.

I signed can we keep the PDA to a minimum?

He nodded his head.

He signed not a problem that just means I have to make sure to spend more time with just you with no one else around.

I shook my head right as the waiter showed up with our food then I started eating.

When we left the restaurant, Callen asked me if I wanted to go to King's Tavern since it was only 8:20. I nodded my head then we headed that way. When we got there, I saw that everyone we usually hang out with was already there.

"Look at this, the new couple decided to join us. How was the date?" Gavin asked after Callen and me sat down.

Callen hit the back of his head before giving him a look then the others laughed.

"Did you like your surprise?" I asked Daisy.

"Yes, I'll tell you about it tomorrow." She said smiling and Harrison shook his head.

"Probably better than this guy who thinks since we are married flowers, chocolate, and a card is enough." Raven said before throwing a peanut at Jake and we all laughed.

"Where's the bracelet this guy spent a lot of money on?" Jake asked looking at my arms.

Callen signed it's at my apartment.

Jake just nodded his head.

I was about to say something when my phone started ringing. I recognized the number and shook my head.

"Excuse me. I have to take this." I said then I got up and walked away.

I walked outside and to where I saw some benches.

"How did you get this number?" I asked answering my phone.

"I have my ways." Alex said.

"We are over. So don't call me and don't try to find me." I said in a mad voice.

"Whatever you say Kitten. Happy Valentine's Day." He said then he hung up the phone.

I shook my head before putting my phone up.

I sat there for a little bit and when I stood up, I saw Callen walking towards me.

He stopped in front of me then signed is everything okay.

I nodded my head.

I signed yeah, just think it's time to go home.

He signed okay, let me tell the others then we can go.

I quickly signed it's fine Callen. You can stay with your friends. I'll see you tomorrow.

He gave me a look.

He signed no, this is a date. I'm taking you back home so wait for me.

I nodded my head then he walked away.

It didn't take long for him to come back out. When we got to my house, I unlocked the door and he put his hand on my right arm before I opened the door.

I looked at him.

He signed what happened? You seem different than before. Who called you?

I signed it's nothing. I'm just tired. I'll see you tomorrow.

He gave me a look before nodding his head.

He signed okay, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to just know I'm here when you want to talk because I know something happened Katherine.

I nodded my head.

I signed goodnight.

I went to open the door and he stopped me. I looked at him.

He signed can I kiss you?

I sighed before signing I'm tired Callen. Go home and I'll see you tomorrow.

He nodded his head before walking away.

I walked inside and locked the door behind me. I leaned back against the door and closed my eyes. I hated that I just pushed Callen away like that when he was so nice to me tonight but something about that call from Alex just gives me a uneasy feeling and I much rather Callen not be caught up in my past.