Burning Love

Chapter Three

Kara

I drop my keys in the bowl on the table next to the door. The house is dark and painfully quiet. A blinding reminder that I am alone. I walk through the living room to the bedroom. Kicking off my shoes, I strip off my uniform and slip on a pair of sweats and a hoodie. My hand runs over the empty shelves on Colton's side of the closet. The movers came a few days ago and packed up all of Colton's things. It's real now. Colton is gone and all of the life that was in these four walls has left with him. Nothing feels the same without him here.

Another day down another day closer to seeing Colton again. When Colton called after the divorce was finalized, he asked me to come visit him in Seattle for Thanksgiving. He wants me to spend Thanksgiving with him and Bailey. I nearly dropped my phone when he asked. I wasn't expecting the invitation not so soon. I take it as a good sign that he still wants to build our friendship up again and get to know each other as Kara and Colton. I want to know everything about Colton Bishop. From where he grew up to how he met Lucy. All of it.

I pour myself a glass of wine and lean up against the counter and pounder the direction of my life. I've been thinking a lot lately about moving to Seattle. Life is just not the same here in Charlotte. The only thing keeping me distracted lately is work. There are only so many times you can work triple shifts before your parents force you to go home and sleep. Becca has a new boyfriend, so she has no time for me outside of work. The wives at the fire house invite me over for barbeques and birthday parties for their kids to help me feel not so lonely. But it only makes me feel lonelier seeing them with their families. I know they are just being nice, but it is a blaring reminder of what I lost. 

I wonder if moving to Seattle would be over stepping any boundaries. This cross-country distance from Colton is killing me. He could still have his space with me. I could stay in a hotel until I can find a place and a job. I sound like a crazy stalker. Maybe I am crazy, but I miss Colton so much. I spent ten years of my life with him, you can't just shut that off. Get it together Kara.

I take my wine to the living room and plop down on the couch. A Gilmore Girl marathon is calling my name. I think I have watched at least seventy five percent of the shows on Netflix since Colton left. It's one of the few things that takes my mind off the loneliness. I feel pathetic. I'm twelve cats away from being a spinster. I can't do this anymore. I can't sit around feeling sorry for myself. It doesn't matter who Colton really is. I love him, and I am not going to sit here anymore. I set my wine glass on the coffee table and grab my laptop. I don't care how crazy this is I am going to Seattle tomorrow.