Breaking the Grid

Chaos

The drive to the restaurant was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound as I navigated the dimly lit streets. My mind buzzed with questions about why Kyra had called, her voice lingering in my head—soft, hesitant, not quite herself.

When I pulled up to the restaurant, I spotted her almost immediately through the large glass windows. She was sitting near the entrance with Gorry, Harper, and a few others, their conversation animated. But Kyra seemed distracted, her posture slightly slouched, her gaze drifting toward the door every few seconds.

I parked the car and reached for the door handle, ready to get out, when my phone buzzed. I paused, pulling it from my pocket.

It was a message from Kyra:

Stay in the car, please.

I stared at the screen for a moment, her words sinking in. My grip tightened slightly on the phone as a mix of emotions swirled in my chest—confusion, concern, a tinge of frustration. But I didn't move.

Instead, I let out a slow breath, leaning back in the seat as I typed a quick reply:

Okay. I'm here whenever you're ready.

The seconds ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. I watched through the window as she exchanged a few more words with her friends, her face unreadable. Then, slowly, she stood, grabbing her bag.

My phone buzzed again:

I'm coming now.

I set the phone down and sat up straighter, watching as she stepped outside. The night air seemed to wrap around her, her tracksuit jacket pulled tight as she walked toward the car. Her steps were steady but hesitant, like she was carrying something heavier than just her bag.

When she reached the passenger door, she paused, her hand hovering over the handle for a moment before she opened it and slid in.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hey," I replied, turning slightly to face her. "You okay?"

She nodded, but her eyes stayed focused on her lap. "Thanks for coming."

"Always," I said simply, my voice gentle.

She exhaled slowly, her fingers fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket. For a moment, the silence between us felt heavy, filled with everything she wasn't saying.

"Kyra," I started, my tone careful, "what's going on?"

She shook her head slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Not here," she said quietly. "Can we just... go?"

"Of course," I said, starting the engine.

The car was quiet as I pulled away from the restaurant, the glow of the streetlights flickering across the dashboard. Kyra sat beside me, her gaze still fixed on her lap, and I kept my eyes on the road, unsure of what to say.

Then, without warning, I felt her hand slip into mine. Her fingers curled around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world, and the tension I'd been holding in my chest loosened just slightly.

"You're so good to me," she said softly, her voice cutting through the quiet.

I glanced at her briefly, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Amore..."

She smiled faintly, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "You are. I don't say it enough, but you are. You're always there, always dropping everything to take care of me."