The Katrina story arc comes to an exciting close!

Seeing the unmistakable outline of my best friend’s rear end at the at the baggage claim, I couldn’t hold back my excitement any longer.

MARISA! I screamed. She turned around and looked, embarrassed, then smiled. KAT! We ran to each other and hugged. I was crying, so relieved that she was finally here. She was crying too, and we were both so excited to see each other. We were making a total scene, and we didn’t care. The only person in the world to me right then was my friend.

People may have thought that we were lovers, but that was so not true. I loved her like a sister. She loved me the same way. Marisa got me through some very tough times when I was turning tricks. She never judged me, and while she may not have liked what I did, she understood why, almost like she could read my mind. Some may not count that as friendship, but to me it was the only way anyone could have been my friend. I wasn’t going to be denied, even if I had to live on the street.

“I’m so glad to see you, girl!” Marisa screeched in her cute little Spanish accent. “I’ve missed you so much! You look fabulous!”

I did a little twirl for her “Ya think? I was worried I was getting fat.”

“If that is fat, sweetie, I want some of it! How long have you been down, like 5 weeks?”

“Almost, I guess, maybe more like four, but who’s counting? You are totally beautiful, even after like what, 20 hours or so on the plane?”

“Yeah, well, first class helps, you know. I hope you know, you’ve spoiled me forever!”

“Yeah, well, don’t get too used to it, hon. I’m not made of money, but it was nice putting you in first class. After all, you didn’t have to come out.”

She looked shocked “Didn’t have to come out? I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I just wish I would have listened to you about the passport. We could have come out together.”

We walked over to customs, and I waited while she got checked out. She only had two small bags, and I was guessing shorts, tees and little dresses didn’t take up much room. Marisa is such a beautiful girl, about five four and one hundred and five pounds. She’s got more on top than I do, and a rear end that makes the boys (and some girls) look twice.

We make quite a pair. Me, the nutty blonde, and Marisa, the smart, witty Latina. She came from a big family, with four sisters, two older and two younger, and three brothers. The brothers really don’t like me. I’m just the little “maricon” that hangs out with their sis. The girls tolerate me, but I don’t think that my situation is really something they can identify with, so I guess it’s enough that Marisa likes me. Her parental units are strict Catholics, and I’m an abomination or something. They are always as cold as ice to me.

As Marisa left customs, she skipped up to me. “Okay, girlfriend, where to now? If it helps, I’m completely starving.”

Smiling, I gave her another little hug. “I can fix that, let’s go to my car.”

Reaching the car, I introduced her to Phi. “She’ll be helping me get through the next few weeks of this. She knows exactly what I’m going through, and she has already been a great help.”

She hugged Phi “Cool. Any friend of Kat’s is a friend of mine. Pleased to meet you!” Pausing, she clapped her hands. “Okay, let’s eat!”

“Phi, where is a good place to eat on the way out of town?” I asked.

She crossed her arms and looked to the side, thinking. Then her eyes lit up. “Oh! I know just the place. You’ll love it! It’s just the place for a first time visitor to go and get a good authentic Thai meal.”

“Okay, Drive on! We are at your mercy!”

We got in to the car, and Phi took us to this little hole in the wall place. Phi had good taste, so I figured this was a great place to eat. I wasn’t disappointed, and neither was Marisa. We ate like animals.

“Oh my gosh, Kat! That was wonderful! I don’t know what they do to chicken and rice, but it’s different than anything I had in the States.”

“I know! Isn’t this great? Now you know why I was worried about my weight.”

Marisa looked at our guide. “I guess. Phi, you don’t talk much. What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

She looked quizzically at Marisa, and then me. Clearly she didn’t understand what my friend had said.

“She means, well, you know, since you are quiet, she thought a cat had stolen your tongue, and….well…., I’m not explaining this very well. It’s just an expression in English that means you are quiet.”

She smiled thinly. “I see…I just don’t have a lot to say right now, and I like listening to you talk. It helps my English. I want to go to America to live, and soon.”

We both nodded.

“Well, if you need a referral or something, we would be more than happy to help you.”

She shook her head politely. “Thank you, but no, I’ve already got that taken care of. I’m just earning enough money to get a good start there.”

Shrugging, I agreed. “I know what you are talking about.”

Phi looked at me with the same questioning look. “What do you mean?”

Blushing, I suddenly realized where I was going. “Oh, nothing. Maybe we should head for home now.”

Marisa elbowed me in the car. “Shut up!” she whispered. “Kat, it’s none of her business what happened with you.”

“I know” I whispered back. “I have a big mouth sometimes.”

Both Marisa and I spent the trip to the regional airport reminiscing about some of the things that we did. We hopped a little airplane for the trip across country to get to Phuket. We caught a little break, as the weather was clear on the way over. Two hours later we landed, and Phi got us set up with another car. She drove us to our little cabana just off the beach.

Mari and I were exhausted by the time we got there, and excused ourselves to go to bed. We grabbed a quick shower together, as the hot water was kind of limited. We were both in our towels, and I was braiding her hair. I loved doing that; she had such beautiful long hair.

“Kat?”

“What, Mari?”

“I want to see it.”

“What?”

“Your new, you know.”

I punched her lightly “Why would you want to see that? Do I go around asking to look at yours?

“That’s different, and you know it. I would have shown you if you would have ever asked me.”

I continued braiding her hair. “I don’t know, it’s not different at all, Mari. I just don’t go around showing my private parts to just anyone who asks, do I?

Mari looked hurt. “It’s new, Kat. I want to see if they did a good job”

“That’s lame, Mari! I told you they did a good job”

“I thought we were friends, Kat!”

“Okay, okay, you big baby. You’re worse than a man!” I imitated her, sounding as whiny as I could. “Come on Kat, let me see your new puss! C’mon, Kat! Pleeeeese!”

“I do NOT sound like that!” she said as she folded her arms in front of her. I could see her smile in the mirror.

“Let me finish your hair, Mari. Then you owe me!”

I finished braiding her hair about three minutes later. Then, leaning back on to the bed, I undid my towel and spread my legs for her.

She gasped. “Oh my God!”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing! Absolutely nothing. It looks just like mine! I can’t see any scarring at all! If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were born that way.”

“Great. Do I have your seal of approval?”

She never looked away “Yes! Let me touch it.”

“Uhhhh, no, Mari. I don’t want you touching me there. It would be gross. You’re like my sister!”

“Oh, it won’t hurt. I want to see what it feels like.”

Pulling my towel back over myself, I retorted, “It feels just like yours, I’m sure, Mari.”

She seemed to snap out of her haze. “I’m sorry, Kat. I didn’t mean that like it sounded.”

It’s okay, Mari. I don’t want to ruin what we have. That’s how it starts. You touch me, I touch you, and before long, we are all over each other. I’m not physically ready for that yet, and mentally either. And not with you. You may not feel that way about me, but I would feel like I am making out with my sister. Can you understand that?”

Mari looked embarrassed. “I can. I’m sorry, Kat. I don’t know what came over me. I’m not saying it would have led anywhere, but I guess it isn’t something we should do, is it?”

“No. But it’s okay, no harm done. Why don’t you do my hair now and we can go to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

Mari took care of my hair. She was quiet as she worked. When she was done, I put on my jammies and hugged Mari.

“You aren’t mad at me, are you?”

“No, just embarrassed with myself. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Hey, you were curious. I think a lot of people are curious about us. I think a lot of men are dying to have sex with us, just to see what it’s like. The harder they protest, the more they want it.”

That seemed to make her feel better. “You’re right. I was curious, and maybe a little turned on. You are a very sexy woman, and I don’t think you fully realize the effect you have on people.”

“Still friends?”

“Still sisters!”

We had a wonderful nights sleep in our bed. The waves were relaxing white noise, and a nice monsoon thunderstorm struck during the night. I always love thunderstorms. They keep me relaxed like nothing else.

We woke up to the smells of eggs and bacon cooking. Phi had evidently started breakfast, and I was hungry. Mari was already in the bathroom. I got up and knocked on the door.

“Are you decent, Mari?”

“Sure, Kat, come on in. I’m just finishing up.”

I walked in to find her clearing her toiletries up from the counter. She had taken her shower, and had already gotten her outfit for the day. It was just a pair of cute booty shorts and a tank top. She had “forgotten” her bra.

I held up her filmy little bra. “Forget something?”

Smiling, she pulled it quickly from my hand. “Nope, too hot.”

I reached in to the shower and started the water. Mari was finishing her makeup, and I reached in and found something that made me laugh.

Mari looked at me through the mirror. “What’s so funny?”

I pulled out the waterproof “pocket rocket” she left in the shower. Holding it delicately, I teased, “A little anxious, were we? Or did I have more of an effect on you that you are willing to admit?”

She blushed enough that even I could see it through her tanned skin. Grabbing the little wand from me, she sputtered. “It was a long flight, Okay? I was very tense, and that helped a lot!”

Suddenly, I remembered the smile that Spongebob had on his face when he found out that Squidward really did like Krabby Patties. A big smile spilt my face and I burst out laughing.

Soon, Mari was laughing with me. I hadn’t laughed like that in months. It felt good.

My shower was a quick affair, as little miss vibrator had used up most of the hot water in her passion.

I put on a yellow mini sundress. It had some support in the bodice, so I didn’t need a bra. I put a pad in my panties and put on some yellow sandals.

Phi and Mari had already started eating. I sat down and spooned some eggs onto my plate and grabbed a couple of strips of bacon. “How did you know I liked Bacon and eggs, Phi?”

“You told a nurse at the hospital, Kat. I just listened”

Taking a forkful of the eggs, I replied “You are a vey good listener, Phi, Thank you.”

She smiled. “Just doing the job you hired me to do, Kat.”

It was still cloudy, so the beach was out for the time being. I had failed to account for the fact that it was monsoon season in Thailand when I set this little excursion up. It was a minor disappointment, and still wouldn’t have kept me from doing it when I did.

Just as it looked like today would be a complete washout, my phone rang. The number that came up was private, but I answered it anyway.

“Hello?”

“Katrina? It’s Trent. How are you doing?”

“Trent! Hi! I’m ok, but I haven’t heard from you in a while. What’s up?”

“Oh, phone service can be a little spotty where I was, so I was able to finish up what I was doing. I’m in Bangkok now. I thought we might get together for a little dinner.”

That made my day. “Wow, Trent, that sounds super awesome!” I paused, remembering where I was. “Oh, crap! I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not in Bangkok anymore. I’m in Phuket. I was dis…I mean I was finished with what I had to do, so I moved to Phuket to finish my uhh, vacation.”

“Ohhh, that’s too bad. I had a great night planned for us.”

I was very disappointed. I was really starting to like this guy. “Ohhh, Trent, I sorry. I would sooo like to go out with you tonight.”

“Ok, I’ll catch a plane out there, and be there in about two hours. That is, if you don’t mind.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Mind? Of course not! But my best friend is here, and I won’t go anywhere without her. I know this is kind of short notice, but could you bring someone with you? Or do you know someone here?”

“That depends, I guess. Is she hot?”

“Why should that matter?”

“I’m not setting my friends up with someone they may not like. Would you?”

“I guess not.” then I felt a little naughty “But if you want to take me out, it’s a risk you’ll have to take, smart boy!”

I heard him laugh. “Okay, but if I didn’t think you were worth it, I’d stay here in Bangkok.”

My flagging self esteem soared. “Oh, I’m worth it, all right. Here’s where I am…”

I got off the phone and screamed. “MARISA! We’re going out tonight!”

Marisa ran into our room. “What?”

“We are going OUT tonight. A date! With two guys!”

She looked stunned. “What do you mean? What’s up?”

I explained the situation to her, including her date.

Rolling her eyes, she moaned. “Great! I get the wingman.”

I grabbed her by the shoulders. “I don’t think so, Mari. He is trying to impress me, and believe me its working! He’ll bring a friend, and I’m sure he will be totally hot! They’ll be here at about five this afternoon. We’ve got some time to think about what we are going to wear. You did bring something to wear, didn’t you?”

“Of course, silly. I wouldn’t be caught dead with at least one outfit to make a man drool”

Giggling, I replied. “This is one of the things I love about being a girl! Boys are soo predictable”

We retreated to our room to plan our night.

At about noon, the weather started to clear up. The sun was peeking through the clouds, and it looked like the rest of the day might be sunny.

“Let’s hit the beach, Mari. The sun is out enough to start us on a nice tan”

“Are you sure, Kat?” she questioned “I don’t want to get burned.”

“I have plenty of sunblock, and a killer bikini to try out. If I don’t get twenty whistles, I’ll consider it a failure.”

I went to one of my bags, and pulled out what might have passed as a piece of string and four little patches of cloth. I went into the bathroom to change. After tying all the bows, I came out to model it for Mari.

“Ta Daaa! Hide the kids, mom and dad because Hurricane Katrina is hitting the beach!”

Mari whistled loudly “You look totally hot, girl. That suit would get you arrested in most places. It’s sick. It’s totally inappropriate, and I love it! Turn around. Is it a thong?”

I showed her. “It’s a Rio back. It leaves just a little more to the imagination, but not much!” I giggled.

“Okay, where’s mine, girl. You said you had a little one for me. You are not showing me up today.

I pulled hers out. What there was of her triangle top left about fifty percent of her glorious C’s totally exposed. The bottom was a thong. I know she always wanted one, and now she had it.

She modeled it for me, and couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. “I am such a slut! It’s totally, completely hot!”

I grabbed our cover-ups. “Let’s go, you slut. Let’s make some drool”
Phi looked at us as we left, smiled and shook her head. I noticed this and asked. “Are our suits too much? Not enough?”

“No, I was just laughing at your silliness. That’s all. Have fun, I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Okay, thanks, Phi.”

The walk to the beach was a riot. We didn’t have enough sense to put on more clothes, and I loved it. We got several whistles, I noticed three husbands got smacked by their wives, and a beach volleyball game was suspended while we walked by. A few jealous girls called us choice names. Like I haven’t been called a hundred times worse than slut. A few people paid big money to debase me more than that. No, it would take a whole lot more that someone calling me slut or bitch to get my panties in a bind.

We laid out for over an hour. We had quite a laugh watching some poor slob walk into a pole while we were putting sunblock on each other. We were so evil.

We came back to the cabana at around three thirty. We showered, and were still smooth in the legs and underarms. The laser treatments were so worth the cost. I was a real blonde, but my body hair was slightly darker. Shaving left me smooth, but the follicles were always visible. I hated that, so I got rid of them, and paid for Marisa also. We would never have to shave again.

We were ready at five on the dot. We were both in little sundresses, Mari’s was a flower pattern strapless, and mine was pink, with spaghetti straps. We both had a minimum of makeup. Light foundation, mascara and lip gloss. We looked totally cute.

The bell rang. I had given Phi the night off, and I answered to door. Trent was looking completely handsome in a blue polo and shorts.

“Hello, beautiful!” He was carrying two bouquets of flowers, One for me and one for Mari.

I felt a twinge I hadn’t felt for some time. I had long since lost any ability to get aroused in the normal male way, and my arousal was more an internal feeling. It was a flutter in my tummy that I couldn’t put my finger on. I smiled my happiest smile and replied, “Hello, handsome.’

“These are for you, and these, are for your friend. Marisa, wasn’t it?”

Marisa appeared out from behind me to accept the flowers “Yes it was, and is. Thank you. Kat didn’t say you were such a gentleman.” I smiled as I elbowed her. “ooff. I mean yes she did.”

“Well, She also didn’t say what an attractive lady you are” It was my turn to get elbowed.

“Well, he should know that any friend of mine would be completely beautiful, inside and out!”

I could tell he was amused by our antics. “Shall we go? Rock is keeping a place for us at the club.”

We looked at each other. “Rock? The club?” It was smiles and giggles all the way to the “Club”. Hey, we’re only eighteen! Give us a break!

He took us to a private club. He was greeted at the door by the doorman or whatever. He was very respectful, and pointed Trent towards the door. “Right this way, Mr. Roberts. Your table is waiting. Mr. Strong is already there”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Seriously? Mr. Rock Strong? What is this guy, a Bond villain? Trent looked at me with a grin on his face. He knew what I was laughing about. Marisa was kind of green, wondering who she had gotten hooked up with.

Her fears were allayed when we got to the table. Mr. Rock Strong was a very handsome, very cultured looking gentleman. He looked to be about twenty five, was five feet eleven and about one hundred seventy five pounds. He introduced himself as Richard Strong. I could almost hear Marisa’s sigh of relief.

“What about ‘Rock’? Where is he?”

Mr. Strong rolled his eyes. “You didn’t call me that did you, Duff?”

I looked at Trent and started laughing “Duff? Your nickname is Duff?”

He got a little embarrassed, and spoke. “Okay, okay. You’re right, Richard, I shouldn’t have done that. Girls, his real name is Richard Rockwell Strong .But it’s so much fun to see people’s reactions when they think you are really named Rock Strong.” We shared a good laugh over that.

“Richard Strong, allow me to introduce you to Miss Marisa Gomez, of San Diego. Marisa, Richard will be your escort for tonight.”

He reached for her hand and kissed it. “Pleased to meet you, Marisa.”

“Same here, Richard. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

“Richard, This is the girl I’ve been telling you about, Miss Katrina McCoy, also of San Diego”

He reached for my hand and kissed it. “Trent’s description didn’t do you justice, Miss McCoy. You are far more beautiful than he gave you credit for.”

“Call me Katrina, please.” I looked to Trent. “So, describing me to your friends, huh?”

He pulled out a chair for me, as did Richard for Marisa. “Maybe a little bit. It’s not every day someone like you falls into a person’s life”

I was on cloud nine. Never in my entire life had I ever been treated like this. I was falling for this man, and hard. I had to pull back, if that was possible. I felt like the stray dog who finally found someone to love it. This was so nice.

“So, Trent,” I began. “You don’t strike me as the typical poor as a church mouse college grad student. What’s the deal?”

“Oh, I do ok. I have a couple of jobs that pay the bills; the rest is just good money management. I don’t often have a lot of free time. It’s something I’m trying to work on.”

“Where did you do your undergrad work?”

“United States Military Academy”

“You’re a soldier?”

“Inactive Reserve for now. I have some other interests that the Government is paying me to explore”

“Like what?”

“Oh, nothing worth mentioning. I am in international relations right now”

“In other words, don’t ask?”

“Something like that. It’s really not all that exciting.”

I noticed Richard and Marisa were lost in their own conversation. The waiter arrived to take our drink order. Marisa ordered a white wine, Richard a beer. The waiter looked at me and I ordered a Perrier. Trent raised his eyebrow and questioned me.

“You know you can order anything, right?”

“Yes, I do. I just don’t drink alcohol.”

“Not even a little?”

“No. I can’t stand it. Perrier is fine with me. I don’t mind if you want to drink, though ”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Interesting. Okay, I’ll have a beer”

The waiter left to place our drink orders. I didn’t explain to him that on one of my special “dates”, my client thought it would be funny to force me to drink wine to make me more “playful”. He nearly killed me, and paid a steep price to keep me quiet. Since that day, I couldn’t stand the smell of the stuff, let alone drink it.

Trent asked me about what I did in San Diego. “I’m just a student. I graduated from High School mid term. So, I guess there’s not a lot to tell.”

“Any folks?”

“My mother died two years ago, and I don’t know my dad. I’m pretty much alone.”

“He reached for my hand. That’s a lot for a young girl to deal with, Katrina. Are you okay?”

“I guess as okay as the next person. I try not to let it bother me. I guess I’ve pretty much put it in the past.”

“Are you sure?”

Smiling, I squeezed his hand. “Yeah, I’m okay.” I wasn’t, but I wasn’t going to ruin the night by blubbering, or letting him in on my little secret. I couldn’t deal with that right now. I was just going to enjoy our time together, and not worry about anything else.

I turned the tables. “So, what about you? Where do you come from?”

“Oh, I come from a little town in Maryland. Baltimore. Every heard of it?”

I smiled, looking down at the table. I needed to quit looking at is eyes. They are sooo beautiful. “Yes, I think so. They have a baseball team, right?”

He squeezed my hand. “Yeah, that’s the one. Anyway, my folks have a little business there doing some government work. That’s how I got on the short list for the Academy. It wasn’t my first choice, but a shoulder injury put an end to both my football and baseball aspirations, and I figured why not be all I can be?”

“You played sports?”

“Yes I did. How about you?”

“Sorry, I was just a geeky girl. I wasn’t an athlete, but I enjoyed watching the games.”

“That’s a shame. I had a blast. I think you would have too.”

“No” I demurred. “Athletics and I didn’t mix” Not after I was beaten by one of the football linemen who thought I was a “sissy”. Well, duh! Had I been a real girl, he would have been put in prison. As it was, I shut my mouth and left it alone.

The waiter brought our drinks. After everything was served, I let Trent order for me, and Richard ordered for Mari. It was a French restaurant, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong.

After that was taken care of, Trent looked at me and shook his head. “I don’t know what to think about you, Katrina. There is a lot more to you than meets the eye, but I’ll be damned if I know what it is.”

Looking into his eyes, I leaned forward. “Is that a bad thing?”

“In your case, I don’t think so. Maybe someday you’ll let me know. But for now, I’ll take what I can get. To us and what mysteries may come next.” He offered his glass to my water bottle, and we toasted.

Our meals were unbelievable. I savored every bite. I had the duck, and it was wonderful. Trent knew what I liked.

We had some coffee to end the meal. I never was much of a coffee drinker, but I managed to get enough sugar into it to make it palatable.

“So girls, are you ready to do something a little more exciting?”

We looked at each other. “Like what?”

Trent looked at Richard. “Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t we surprise you.”

“We aren’t going to get in trouble, are we?”

Richard spoke up. “We wouldn’t be very responsible escorts if we didn’t take care of you, would we.”

Marisa answered. “That’s what we are afraid of.”

The valet returned to car to us, and Richard and Trent opened the doors for us like true gentlemen. What did I ever do to be treated like this?

As we got underway, I asked where we were going. Trent said we were going to a dance club. I recognized it as a place where a lot of kathoey hung out. Girls like me, or pre op transsexuals. I looked at Marisa in the back seat, snuggling with Richard. I was in a panic. What if someone made me? What if Trent made fun of those poor girls?

“Are you all right, Katrina?”

“Yes, just a little carsick, I guess” If he only knew. We got to the place, called the Cat Club (no, the irony wasn’t lost on me). The valet took the car, and we went inside. The music was loud, and the patrons were louder.

Trent leaned in to me. “Don’t be too shocked, but a lot of the girls walking around here are really men.”

“Really? I would never have guessed.”

“Yeah, it’s true. I have never been to a place like this. I thought it would be a wild evening. One for the books.”

God. If he only knew. I smiled and danced with Trent. He had eyes only for me, and he never mentioned what was going on around us.

I finally had to ask. “So these women are really men? What do you think about that?”

He shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know. Different strokes for different folks. Never really thought about it. I guess it’s kind of an oddity, but it’s not my place to judge. I just roll with it.”

That answer made me smile a bit. Maybe there was some hope for us after all.

We had a wonderful time, Mari and Richard went off to go for a walk on the beach. They took the car, but that was cool, we weren’t that far from the cabana, and for some reason I felt safe with Trent. I found out so much more about him. What he liked, what he didn’t. What his favorite foods were. Stuff that may sound dumb to the average person. Stuff that nobody besides Marisa and a couple of other people ever bothered to share with me. Certainly no one I had ever “dated” in the past.

We walked, hand in hand. I leaned in to him as we walked, resting my head on his big shoulder.

“Thank you for visiting me, Trent. It means more to me than you will ever know.”

He looked puzzled. “Why? I’ll bet you have guys lined up to go out with you.”

I stopped and looked him in the eye. “No, I don’t. I don’t let many people close to me, and those who have usually ended up hurting me, so spending time like this is like, I don’t know, being in an oasis or something.”

Pulling me close, he spoke softly. “I don’t know who hurt you in the past, but I think you’re something special. I would never do that, and you can rely on that. In the short time I’ve known you; you have really made an impact on me. There is something about you that’s different, and I can’t put my finger on it. You’re strong, but extremely vulnerable at the same time. I find you completely fascinating.”

I blushed, and turned away “You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Trent. There’s a lot about me, that if you knew, well, you wouldn’t find me so fascinating.”

He pulled me into a tight hug. “There’s nothing you could have done that would make me think that. You’re eighteen. What could you have done that could be so bad? Believe me, I’m the last person that would judge someone. I’ve done some pretty terrible things myself.”

If he only knew. Tears started down my cheeks and I buried my head in his chest and cried. He just held me, and that was enough.

After a minute, he suddenly stiffened and held me tighter. Something was wrong. I looked up and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Shhhhh. Maybe nothing. We should get going.”

As we started walking again, he held me protectively, almost like a bodyguard.

I asked again “What’s wrong, Trent?”

“We’re not alone.” He was tense, and I was starting to get scared. He held my head between his hands, looking me squarely in the eyes. “If things get crazy, you stay with me and do what I tell you to do, ok?”

“I’m scared, Trent.”

“Me too, Kat. But whoever is following us should be more worried.” He produced a small phone and spoke into it. “Rock?”

“Go ahead?”

“Trouble. Get here ASAP, partner”

“Rog. On my way. ETA four minutes.”

He whispered into the mike. “It’ll be over by then. Get the lead out.”

“Hey, fox.” A voice from behind us crooned in a strong Thai accent. “How about you losing the boyfriend and coming with us. The boss wants to see you. He has a business proposition for you.”

Trent tightened like a spring. It was slight, but I could feel it. There was no nervousness in his actions. “Let me handle this.”

Trent looked coolly at the thug. “I don’t think the lady wants to go anywhere with you tonight, friend. It might be better if you bothered someone else tonight. Better for everyone involved.”

The thug looked at Trent and smiled evilly, an evil magnified by the two gold teeth in place of the front top incisors.

“You don’ know who you messin’ with white boy. This our town, our ways. The boss says she come. She come.”

“I don’t think so, friend. And the five other boys that are hiding can come out now. I know where you all are.”

Five men came out and lined up side by side with the leader.

Trent whispered to me in measured tones. “When I tell you, drop down to my feet and stay down until I tell you it’s ok. If anything happens to me, take this phone and run like hell. Rock will find you. Understand?”

I nodded nervously. “Don’t get hurt, okay?”

He smiled. “Not bloody likely”

The head creep motioned to his buddies. They were all wiry youths, all lean and very mean looking. The leader spoke again. “Maybe you not know who we are, white boy.”

“I don’t need to know, friend. Don’t care. If you make a move for my friend here, you will all be very sorry in 30 seconds.” He paused, looking at each one of them, as if measuring their capabilities. “I have no desire to kill you, so if you walk away now, I’ll forget all of this.”

The men started to shift nervously. Clearly, dealing with Trent wasn’t part of the plan.

The leader paused, then resumed his stupid grin “We six, you one. What you do to us?”

“Try something and see, friend.” He pointed to the one next to the leader. “Anything happens, you die first. Understand?”

“He no speak English”

“Too bad. Okay boys, What’s it gonna be? Do something or get out of the way.”

Maybe ten seconds passed without a word. It seemed like ten minutes. Then….

“DROP!” I went down like I’d been shot.

Faster than I could see, Trent produced a silenced pistol from behind him. 6 whisper quiet shots later, 6 thugs were on the street, writhing in pain. Maybe fifteen second had passed. Not one of the men were dead. He had shot them all in apparently non-vital areas.

“Stay here, Kat.” He walked over to the leader.

“Told you to move on, boy. Now we get to have a conversation.”

“Fuck you, white boy. I say nothing!”

“Okay. Have it your way.” He proceeded to shoot him on the shoulder.

“AHHHHHH!” he screamed. “Okay, I talk.”

“Who sent you?”

“Boss White. He want her for his club. Say she make him big money. Say he pay big money for her already.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know!” Trent raised the pistol again.

“This pistol has twenty rounds. I’ve only used seven. Do the math.”

“Okay! Okay! He has deal with surgery place, they do good work, he get info on girl. HE have girl work for blondie. She name Phi, she set blondie up. That all I know, man. That all!”

“What surgery? What place?”

Oh my God. I had to break this up. He couldn’t find out this way.

“Trent!” I screamed. “The police are coming. I don’t want to be here when they get here! Let’s go!”

“Just a minute, Kat, I’m trying to get some information.” He turned back to the thug.

“Please, Trent! I’m scared! I need to get back.” I was crying hysterically. This wasn’t an act. He couldn’t find out why I was here.

He ran to me and put his arms around me. “Okay, Kat. It’s okay! Take it easy. He soothed.

“Please Trent. Please take me home.”

The phone crackled to life. “You guys okay?”

“Yeah Rock. Pick us up.”

I was inconsolable during the ride back. I couldn’t stop crying. I had been betrayed again. This time, by people I didn’t even know. Was the therapist who had been so nice to me just acting? And Phi. She had been recommended. By the clinic. Was there a giant “screw with me” sign on my back? The cat was halfway out of the bag now. Obviously, Trent wasn’t what he said he was. I wasn’t. Phi wasn’t, the doctor wasn’t. No one was. The only person I could count on was Marisa, and now she was in danger too, because of me.

We got to the cabana. Trent carried me in. I had lost maybe ten pounds since I got here, and he lifted me like I was nothing.

“Oh my God, Kat! What happened, Trent? There’s been a problem. Katrina was set up.”

Mari gasped “Set up? How?”

“Apparently, the clinic where she was had a deal with one of the local crime lords to be supplied with sex slaves. A blonde Caucasian girl like Kat is worth her weight in gold. Girls, I need to know what is going on here.”

I panicked. “No! Trent, please! Just go! Take Marisa with you. I can take care of myself. I’ll make it to the airport and get back on my own! This is my business!”

Marisa grabbed me. “KAT! You’ll never make it. They know where you are, you don’t have a car. They’ll get you!”

“I don’t care! I DON’T CARE! You have all done enough. I won’t go with you!” My pulse was going crazy. I was melting down, but I couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t find out. Not like this. I loved him. If he cast me aside, life in a brothel would be nothing.

“MARI! LEAVE…ME ALONE!” I began to hyperventilate. “NOOOOO!” The room began to spin, then, nothing”

I don’t know how long I had been out. When I came to, Richard and Trent were talking in the corner. Phi was sitting in a chair, with her hands behind her back. Mari was with me, holding a cool cloth to my forehead.

“w-w-what happened?” I managed weakly.

“You passed out, girl. You melted down. According to the clock, you’ve been out for 3 hours. Trent has called in a helicopter. He and Richard work for the government on some special project that they won’t tell me about.”

I remembered what had happened. Tears flowed down my cheeks again. “I think he knows about me, Mari”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But you have to tell him. He risked his life to save you.”

“I can’t Mari. I just can’t. He’ll hate me, and I can’t hurt him. I’d rather he lived his life without me and be happy.”

She got down on her knees beside the bed. “Trust him, Kat. Trust him to make the right decision. With all of the facts.”

“I can’t Mari! Everyone I’ve ever had contact with except for you has betrayed me. How do I trust him?”

“Do you love him?”

I turned away. “Yes.”

“Then tell him everything. Trust your heart this time.”

I had to think. This was way too fast, and not what I wanted.

Phi saw that I was awake, and got an evil smirk on her face. “Well, look who’s up. The little AHahhaahahahah!”

She didn’t get to finish her thought. Trent hit her with a stun gun. “oops.”

Trent smiled at me said “This little rat came sneaking in to try to take what cash you had. Imagine her surprise when she felt the barrel of a gun against her temple.”

“What did she tell you?” I asked shakily.

“Nothing. She thinks she’s being clever. I already know everything she knows about the operation.”

Mari looked at me. I knew what I had to do. Sitting up in the bed, I pulled my knees up to my chest and put my pillow out in front of me.

Mari looked up at Trent. “She’s the best friend I have, and she’s been through more than you can ever know. Listen to her, and whatever you do, don’t hurt her. Be nice.”

He looked concerned. “What’s up, Katrina?”

“Please, sit down. We need to talk. Well, really, I need to talk, and you need to listen.”

He sat down on the side of the bed. “What is it, Kat?”

Taking a deep breath, I began. “I need to explain some things to you, Trent. When I came here, I never expected to meet anyone like you, let alone develop any kind of an attraction. You see, I’m not really who you think I am. You see, I came to Thailand to have my SRS done.”

“SRS?”

“Sexual Reassignment Surgery. I was born a boy named Kerry.” The tears came now, but I continued. I told him every last sordid detail of my miserable life. The abuse, everything. I couldn’t even look at him, I was so ashamed. But I didn’t hold anything back. I felt like I was walking naked down Fifth Avenue. My story took the better part of an hour.

To his credit, Trent never said a word. He just listened. When I was finished, I took sighed deeply.

“So now you know everything there is to know about me. I’m sorry for leading you on. I really didn’t mean to, but you were so wonderful to me. I had never been treated like that before, and I needed it, I guess. I would never hurt you, and if you never wanted to see me again, I’ll understand.”

There was silence. I waited. I still hadn’t looked at him. I couldn’t. I was afraid of what I might see. Finally, I couldn’t bear it any longer. I looked, and he was standing at the window, looking out to the sea.

I got up from the bed, and walked quietly toward him. I reached out and gave him the lightest touch, knowing he could hurt me terribly if he felt betrayed. “Trent?” I whispered.

He turned to face me. Tears were rolling down his cheeks.

I looked up at his blue eyes. “I’m sorry. So, so sorry. I should have ignored you. Then all of this would have never happened. This is all my fault.”

“Don’t you ever say that, Katrina. I came to you. I saw a wildly beautiful woman that I had to get to know. That’s what you are, Kat. A woman. Not fake, not phony. More real to me than any woman I’ve ever known. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you, but I want to spend the rest of my life making up for the pain you endured. I love you more now than I did before. You didn’t have to trust me, yet you did. You bared everything to me, knowing in your mind that I would probably reject you. Yet still, you faced your fear. How could I not love someone like that”

I couldn’t speak. I just fell forward onto his big, strong chest and cried. This time, they were tears of joy.

He held me. “Kat, there will be some challenges ahead. You still have issues that must be dealt with. But this time, I’ll be there for you, and we’ll work it out together.” He stroked my hair. “After all, my wife will need to be ready for our children.”

Epilogue

Trent Roberts kept his word. He stayed with me, and we dealt with everything as a team. He was a grad student, and he never lied to me. I never asked how he knew what he did, and he never volunteered.

We were married three years later. My daddy walked me down the aisle.

He got his degree, and I got to be a mommy. We adopted two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. He was a very successful researcher for something secret. I never asked what he did. I didn’t care. He was home every night, and I was the center of his life.

Marisa and Richard ended up tying the knot after we did. She got her degree, and became an elementary school teacher. They are still working on a family.

Am I ashamed of what I did? Yes. But for what I have now, I would do it all over again.

Sometimes good girls do finish first!