I wanted to forgive Kate, so badly. I thought I hated her, but that kiss—raw, passionate, full of affection—made me feel owned, claimed in a way I hadn't expected. It stirred something deep inside me, something I had been trying to suppress. But the weight of everything between us kept my walls up.
The only words I could manage were, "Where's my car?"
Kate smiled, a small, surprised curve to her lips, as if she hadn't expected that to be the first thing I'd say. "Outside, silly."
I blinked, caught off guard. I figured it would've been at the impound by now. "Really?" I asked, my voice rising in excitement, knowing deep down she was just teasing me, trying to lighten the weight of the moment, to ease the pain I was feeling.
She glanced at me, her smile fading slightly. "I'm sorry, mon cœur. It's at the pound. You wrecked it."
"That quickly?" I sighed, the lightness in my chest deflating. "I kinda wish they hadn't taken it so soon. At least I could've sat there, staring at other people's cars, admiring how much money they have."
Kate chuckled, shaking her head. "Girl, you drive a '62 Lincoln. That thing looks like it came straight out of Crash 1996. You can't be yapping about money."
I let out a small, genuine laugh despite myself. It was the first time in a while that I felt the tension ease, even just a little. As the sound of my laughter faded, I noticed the nurses walking in, clipboard in hand, their footsteps quiet but purposeful.
Kate's gaze lingered on me, something heavy in her eyes, as though she was waiting for me to say something, to break the silence between us. But I stayed quiet, not ready to let go of my hurt just yet.
I could still feel the pull of her, the way she made me feel like I was on a tightrope between love and hate, trust and betrayal. But there was something about that kiss... something that made me wonder if there was still something left to salvage, or if we were already too far gone.
As the nurse began speaking to me about my release, I glanced at Kate, her face unreadable. I knew the conversation wasn't over. Not yet.
YOU ARE READING
Fragile Minds, Fierce Hearts
RomanceKate, a successful Twenty-three year old lawyer, has spent the last few years of her life mourning her wife Kira, who died in a car crash. Her grief is all-consuming, her world a constant tug-of-war between memory and reality. Enter Chloe, a Thirty...
