A Love Rekindled

Chapter 11

Enid sat at her desk, her gaze drifting repeatedly toward Wednesday, who lays in her bed, eyes half-closed as she is on the edge of sleep.

The scene from the night before replayed in her mind, and she felt a confusing swirl of emotions. She knew what had happened between them was wrong, especially now that she was with Damon.

But no matter how much she tried to push away the thought, she couldn't ignore the warmth that lingered. It felt... right, even if it shouldn't have.

A heavy sigh escaped her as she pressed her palms to her face, trying to clear her head.

The sight of Wednesday so vulnerable, exposing her hurt and regrets, had been a side of her she'd never seen. She'd instinctively wanted to comfort her. But now, in the bright morning light, the guilt gnawed at her.

Her thoughts were broken by a sudden knock on the door. She stiffened, glancing between the door and Wednesday, her heart beat slightly at the idea of facing Damon.

She swallowed hard and opened the door, her breath hitched when she saw him standing there with his usual warm smile.

"Hey," Enid greeted, forcing a smile but feeling her stomach twist. She shifted her weight, blocking his view of the bed.

"Hey," he replied, his smile faltering slightly. "Can I come in?"

"Uh..." Enid's eyes darted toward Wednesday, who still lay in bed, unmoving. "Sure," she said after a pause, stepping aside to let him in.

As Damon entered, his gaze immediately found Wednesday lying in bed, and his smile faded into a frown.

His eyes lingered on her for a moment, his jaw tensing slightly as he took in the scene.

"She's... here," he mumbled, a hint of suspicion creeping into his tone.

Enid felt a surge of panic. "Yeah, she was... really drunk last night," she explained quickly, hoping her voice sounded convincing. "I had to bring her back here to make sure she was okay."

Damon's gaze flickered between Enid and Wednesday, the unease evident in his expression.

"Is that so," he said slowly, though his tone held a hint of doubt. His eyes didn't leave Wednesday's figure, as if he was trying to piece together the scene.

Enid shifted awkwardly, feeling the tension thickening between them.

"Yeah," she replied softly, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

After a brief, tense silence, Damon finally looked away, reaching into his bag to pull out a small, neatly wrapped box.

"Anyway," he said, his voice softer, "I came by to bring you these." He handed her the box, which she opened, revealing an assortment of cookies.

Enid's face softened, guilt tugging at her again as she met his kind eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured, pulling him into a quick hug. Damon wrapped his arms around her, but there was an edge to his touch, something more restrained than usual.

He stepped back, smiling faintly. "I should get going," he said, glancing once more at Wednesday before exiting the room. "I'll see you later, Enid."

"Yeah," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched him go. She closed the door, guilt settle over her.

When she turned, she found Wednesday sitting up on the bed, watching her with an unreadable expression.

Enid held up the box of cookies with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood.