Chapter 11
His pain–filled eyes, his desperate attempts to explain himself–it all felt too familiar.
The kiss. God, that kiss. It shouldn’t have happened, yet it had. And now, it lingered like an unwelcome guest, stirring up emotions I thought I’d buried long
ago.
Maybe I was going crazy.
I replayed the encounter over and over in my mind, as if dissecting it would somehow make sense of the chaos it left behind. The way Kyle had looked at me -with raw emotion and regret–it was impossible to ignore. For a moment, I’d seen a version of him I hadn’t seen in years, the version I’d once loved.
But then reality came crashing back. Two years ago, I made a decision to walk away, to distance myself from him and the hurt he’d caused. One fleeting moment of weakness wasn’t going to change that.
I needed to stay strong, to focus on the life I was building for myself–a life free from the shadows of my past.
Kyle had his chance, and he didn’t take it. Whatever he was feeling now wasn’t my responsibility to fix.
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After Ryan picked Violet up, 1 hailed a cab to my apartment. I had rented the place just a few days ago, fully accepting that I’d be staying in New York for the next two months. Violet’s diagnosis of C–section complications meant frequent hospital visits, and there was no way I wouldn’t be here for her.
The ride back was a blur. I barely noticed the passing scenery until the driver’s voice pulled me out of my daze. Stepping out, I felt the weight of the quiet night pressing down on me as I unlocked the door.
The quietness of the house seemed to remind me of my loneliness as I trudged through the door.
I made my way to the kitchen, craving the comfort of a hot cup of coffee. After preparing my coffee, I sank into the living room sofa and turned on the TV, hoping for some distraction. But even the flickering screen couldn’t keep my mind from wandering.
I sighed deeply, losing count of how many times I had done so today. A soft, plaintive meow suddenly broke the silence, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced over to see my cat, Mochi, wagging her tail at me, her green eyes wide with expectation.
“Sorry, girl,” I murmured, realizing I’d forgotten to feed her.
I scooped her up gently, carrying her to the kitchen. After setting her down, I prepared her meal, sprinkling some fish food into her bowl. Mochi darted around excitedly, her contented purrs filling the air as she ate. Watching her, I couldn’t help but feel a small pang of comfort. She had been my constant companion since I got this apartment,her presence grounding me in the chaos of hospital visits with Violet and endless cups of coffee.
As Mochi finished her meal, I leaned against the counter, sipping my coffee. She was a tiny source of solace, and I was grateful I had her.
The ping of my phone snapped me out of my reverie. I picked it up to see a text from Ethan–the man I’d met at the hotel a week ago.
“Hey, how are you doing? I was wondering if you’d be free for dinner this week. Totally understand if you’re not–hospital runs and all.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. Ethan has been an unexpected but pleasant addition to my life lately. Our conversations were easy, his company surprisingly enjoyable.
I stared at the screen for a moment, hesitating. Maybe I needed this. Maybe I needed to give someone else a chance, to prove to myself that I wasn’t stuck in some endless loop of heartbreak.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I finally typed out a positive response:
“Dinner sounds good. Let me know when and where.”
Setting the phone down, I made my way to bed, exhaustion settling into my bones. The moment my head hit the pillow, sleep claimed me, offering a temporary escape from the whirlwind of emotions that seemed to define my days.
