Open Case File [COMPLETED]

Double Date (Part 13)

Excusing herself, Carter headed back into the cool night air. Kia stood there, fingers knotted. She smiled at Carter.

"Thanks for coming. Donovan gave me your number," she said. "So..." she held out her arms. "How do I look? Good? I just haven't done this in ages."

Kia wore a deep purple dress that complimented her skin tone. She'd pinned up her hair but small tendrils hung loose, curling around her face.

"You look perfect, feminine enough that it should downplay how intimidating you can be in a pantsuit."

Kia laughed. "It was the reason I went with the dress, I scare most of the men in the office that none of them see me as worth dating. Which works well for me, I don't ever plan to date someone I work with, too many complications."

Carter smiled, remembering how much she liked this girl, level-headed and blunt. For a brief moment, she wondered what high school life would have been like if she'd had a friend like Kia. She imagined they would have been an unstoppable pair.

"Come on, he's inside," she said.

Taking in a steadying breath, raising her chin, Kia strode forward.

"I spent the past few days searching everything I could about him, so I'm prepared."

"Yeah, don't tell him that," Carter said. "He'll feel like he should have done the same."

As they rejoined Donovan and Tyler, both men rose. Tyler gazed over Kia, stunned.

"Wow," he said. Gathering himself, he smiled and held out his hand. "I'm Tyler Hayes, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Kia Mitchell," Kia said. "Likewise."

When they all settled in, Carter sat between Kia and Donovan, which gave her a clear view of Tyler across the way. She noted the way he looked to Kia with admiration but fiddled with the cuff of his shirt. Kia appeared to be all composed, her smile welcoming but Carter saw the twitch of her fingers as she neatened her napkin on her plate. After drinks and dishes were ordered, a beat of silence invaded the table.

"So," Kia said, displaying the headstrong side of her. "Tyler how do you know Carter and Donovan."

At the question, Tyler relaxed a bit. "It's a funny story, Carter and I attended high school together."

"Oh, so not Donovan's friend?" Kia said.

Carter understood the assumption since it had been Donovan who initiated the blind date for Tyler, not Carter.

"No," Tyler said. "I hadn't seen Carter since high school until last year."

Kia glanced between the two of them, trying to solve the puzzle. "Did you two date?"

Tyler looked uncomfortable but Carter drew the attention to herself.

"No, we only ever had one interaction. I bumped into Tyler in the hallway and we talked. We planned to meet up later but I moved to a different school." Carter decided to leave out the fact that they had liked each other, not sure it would help the situation. "We ran into each other again at the National Gallery and it was like old times. At dinner that night Donovan and Tyler met, talked books the entire time and I haven't gotten them to shut up ever since."

Kia laughed and Tyler grinned sheepishly but seemed pleased all the same.

"How did you and Carter become friends?" Tyler asked Kia.

This time Kia looked a little uncertain.

"It's a story like yours," Kia said. "I met Donovan in high school. We attended Winter Formal together." Tyler shot Donovan a look and Carter knew Donovan had failed to mention this factor. Before Tyler could grow uncomfortable, Kia hurried on. "He went with me so Link could go with my friend. I've never had a more reluctant date. He sat the whole time and I left him early."