Stranger Things Have Happened, I Know

Ch 66

~*~*Dave’s Point of View*~*~

                I felt like I was away on tour, alone in a hotel room. But this was worse. Kate’s things were here, but she wasn’t. I sat on the couch with my head in my hands, trying not to picture her grind up on Alex, wondering if I’d done the right thing leaving her there. I stood and paced the length of the suite a few times, then went into the bedroom to change out of my club clothes. I pulled on a pair of cargo shorts and an old t-shirt. I brushed my hair back into a pony tail and pulled open the large sliding glass door and stepped out onto the balcony. I leaned on the railing and looked out over the ocean. I could hear the waves crashing in the darkness and I closed my eyes and counted them, drowning myself in their sound.

                “Dave?” I heard a small voice behind me. I spun around to see Kate standing in the open sliding door. I hadn’t even heard her come in. I looked at her, her make-up was smeared, a clear sign she’d been crying…again. My heart sank.

                “Are you ok?” I asked. Even though I was angry at her for acting out at the club, I was still worried about her.

                “I think I am going to be,” she said with a weak smile. She came over to stand next to me and leaned forward onto the railing. The breeze coming off the ocean blew a few strands of hair across her face and she quickly brushed them away. I turned and leaned forward too, my elbows on the railing, my chin resting in my hands. We stood like that, side by side, listening to the waves crash in the dark. After a while, Kate straightened up and turned towards me.

                “Let’s go in,” she said. I didn’t move. She leaned in and kissed my shoulder before heading back inside, leaving me alone once again. I can’t remember feeling sadder than I’d felt these past few weeks. More sad or more alone. I inhaled the salty night air deeply and rubbed my beard. Finally, I straightened up and figured I’d better go check on Kate and make sure she wasn’t knee deep in another break down.

                I wandered into the master bedroom and I heard the shower running. I poked my head inside the bathroom to check on her. She was standing under the shower head, her eyes closed running her hands through her hair. She looked like she was doing alright and I was about to turn and leave when she opened her eyes. She jumped, startled by my presence. She clapped her hand over her heart.

                “Oh Christ,” she said. “You scared me.”

                “Sorry!” I said, holding my hands up in front of me. “I was just making sure you were ok.”

                “You were enjoying the show,” she teased, her playfulness surprising me. I smiled at her.

                “Well… yeah I kinda was,” I admitted.

                “You wanna join me?” she said, her voice low and seductive. And as good as she looked, as much as I missed her, I had to decline. I was still stinging from our disastrous night out on the town.

                “That’s ok, I will wait for you to get out,” I told her. She looked slightly confused but nodded. I gave a little wave as I turned and went back into the bed room. I pulled off my shorts and T-shirt. I switched off all the lights except the small lamp on Kate’s side of the bed and crawled under the covers, suddenly exhausted. I closed my eyes and after not too long I heard Kate shut off the shower. She padded around the suite, getting ready for bed, then switched off the bedside lamp and climbed into bed next to me. She wiggled over to my side of the bed and draped her arm around me. She planted small kisses on my neck and shoulder.