We are not going back

Chapter twenty-eight

I woke up slowly, my heart feeling impossibly light. Kamala’s arm was still draped over me, and for a moment, I just lay there, letting the weight of last night sink in. It had been intimate in a way I hadn’t experienced in years, and now, with her so close, I found myself unable to look at her directly. A new shyness had taken over me, an uncertainty, because I had shared a part of myself I never thought I would give to anyone other than Olivia.

Kamala stirred beside me, her gaze soft as she watched me. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle, a world away from the public figure everyone knew.

I nodded, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck. “Yeah... I just... I don’t know how to explain it.”

She leaned back on the pillows, her hand brushing my arm. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her calmness only made me more nervous. I sat up slowly, pulling the sheet around me as if it could shield me from the vulnerability I was feeling. "Last night..." I started, unsure of how to finish the thought.

"It was beautiful," Kamala finished for me, smiling softly.

I bit my lip and glanced at her, wondering how she could be so at ease when I felt like my world had shifted completely. "It was. But... I’m still married to Olivia. I mean, we’re not... together in the way that matters anymore, but I can’t leave her. I need to stay with her. It’s complicated."

Kamala didn’t flinch at my words. She simply watched me, her dark eyes thoughtful. "I understand. This isn’t about forcing anything. We don’t have to define it right now."

Her reassurance made me exhale, but the weight of my decision still lingered. "I’m going to support Olivia publicly. We’ll stay together for appearances, but... in private, it’s over. We won’t be intimate or emotionally connected. It’s just... part of what my life has to be now."

Kamala’s hand slipped into mine, and for a moment, I felt the warmth of her acceptance. She nodded slowly. "I respect that. You have to do what’s right for you, and if that means maintaining a certain image for Olivia’s sake, I get it. But just know that whatever this is... between us, I’m here for you. No pressure."

Her words calmed me, but before I could respond, there was a sudden knock at the door. We both froze. My heart raced as I glanced at Kamala, who was already rising from the bed.

The door opened, and it was Doug. His face was drawn tight with worry, but the moment he stepped inside and saw the two of us together, something shifted in his expression. He didn’t even look twice at his wife standing with only a towel around her. There was no shock, no anger. Just understanding. His gaze moved between us, and then he sighed.

"Kamala, I’ve been looking for you," he said, glancing briefly at me before turning his attention back to her. "You need to know something."

Kamala stepped forward, adjusting her robe. "What’s going on?"

Doug hesitated for a beat, then looked directly at me. "It’s Olivia."

She easily moved back to the bed. My stomach dropped, and I felt Kamala’s hand lightly brush my back. Doug crossed his arms, his voice lowering. "I don’t care about what’s happening between the two of you. Kamala and I... it’s been over for a long time, and we both know that. But Olivia... she’s not going to take this well. She’s already suspicious, and you know what she’s like when she feels cornered."

I felt a lump in my throat as the weight of his words sank in. Olivia had always been unpredictable, but if she knew...

"I’ll handle it," Kamala said, her voice steady, though I could feel the tension radiating from her, "You don't have to worry, Doug, thank you."