Chapter 21
ASHLEY
I woke up to the dull throb of a headache pressing against my temples, my body sinking into the mattress like dead weight. My limbs felt heavy and for a moment, I couldn’t quite place where I was. The scent of vanilla and faint traces of my perfume clung to the sheets–familiar, safe. My bed. My apartment.
I swallowed, my throat dry, my mind sluggish as I tried to piece together how I got here. Then it hit me.
Kyle.
A rush of heat crept up my neck as the memories surfaced–his strong arms carrying me, the steady warmth of his chest against mine, the scent of his cologne mixing with the night air. My stomach twisted at the thought. Embarrassment curled in my stomach
God, had I really let that happen?
I pushed myself up, groaning as my body protested. Every part of me felt drained, not just physically but emotionally. Last night had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit.
Flashes of it flickered through my mind like a broken reel–hands gripping my waist, unwanted. The sharp spike of fear, the sick feeling in my gut. And then JKyle, his face dark with anger, his fists colliding with flesh. The raw fury in his eyes.
The tension in the car afterward, thick enough to suffocate me.
I shook my head, forcing the thoughts away.
Kyle didn’t care. Not anymore.
I repeated the thought in my head like a mantra, trying to make myself believe it.
I ran a hand through my hair, as if that could somehow smooth over the mess of emotions swirling inside me. Just as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, something on the nightstand caught my eye. A small slip of paper, neatly folded.
Frowning, I reached for it, my fingers tracing over the edges before unfolding it.
“Remember to take the herbal tea
Kyle’s handwriting.
A faint smile ghosted across my lips, unbidden and fleeting. He used to do this–little things that didn’t seem like much but always meant more than I let on. Anytime I drank too much, he would make sure I had herbal tea waiting for me in the morning, knowing I’d refuse to take care of myself otherwise.
It was an old habit, a remnant of a time when things between us weren’t so tangled in hurt and distance. A time when I didn’t feel the need to question his intentions or build walls around my heart.
For a moment, the familiarity of it wrapped around me like a warm blanket, softening the dull ache inside my chest.
But just as quickly, I shook my head, forcing the feeling away.
It didn’t mean anything. Not anymore.
I folded the note carefully, pressing it back onto the nightstand as if setting it down could also put these emotions to rest.
I made my way to the kitchen. Everything was exactly as I had left it–except for the tea canister sitting on the counter, next to a clean mug.
Kyle. Again.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and busied myself with boiling water, measuring out the dried leaves with practiced ease. Once the tea steeped,I poured the tea into my favorite mug, inhaling deeply as the steam rose. The warmth of it was soothing, the earthy scent calming something inside me. I took a careful sip, feeling the liquid slide down my throat, carrying away the remnants of the headache still lingering from the night before.
felt better. Not much, but enough to take the edge off.
I glanced over at the small bowl where Mochi always waited for breakfast. I moved to fill her dish, watching as she eagerly dug in.
But I wasn’t sure if I could find peace in that anymore.
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Chapter 21
After I finished, I set the empty mug down and made my way to the bathroom, the steam from the shower already starting to fog up the mirror. The hot water was like a physical relief–like it could wash away everything from last night, all the confusion and conflict. I let it pour over me, feeling it chase the tension from my muscles, each drop a small moment of release.
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