Chapter 44
I didn’t see Karl all day,
0)
When I woke up, the room was empty. The hallway outside was quiet. I got up, showered, pulled on a loose sweater and shorts, then sat on the edge of the bed with my phone in my hand. I kept checking it even though I had no reason to.
I stayed in the room most of the day, switching between the bed and the chair near the window. The longer it stayed quiet, the more it
got to me.
Around late afternoon, someone knocked.
I sat up straight and answered, Kent stepped inside, holding a clipboard. He was followed by a nurse I hadn’t seen before. She was already putting gloves on
“Just a follow–up check, Kent said.
I nodded and sat back as the nurse walked over. She knelt beside the bed and peeled back the edge of my sweater to look at the bandage on my ribs. I watched her face. She didn’t look concerned
Bruising’s still fresh but healing,” she said. “You’ll probably be sore for a while. How’s the pain!”
*Manageable.”
She moved on to my cheek. When she tilted my chin. I saw Kent watching me. His eyes landed briefly on my neck. My face burner red as I realised he was staring at my hickey.
I raised
my
hand and tugged the collar of my sweater higher.
He looked away without reacting and made a note on his clipboard.
I kept my eyes on the wall behind him. “Is Karl around?”
“He’s busy, Kent said without looking up.
“Oh. Okay.
The nurse finished and stood up. She gave me a packet of pills and a few printed instructions, Kent nodded once and followed her out. The door shut behind then
I stayed sitting for a few minutes. My hand went to my neck again. The skin was still tender. I touched it lightly and thought about the way Karl’s mouth had been there the night before. The sound of his voice. The way he looked at me.
My legs shifted. I pressed my thighs together. I hated that it still affected me.
I got up and left the room. The house was quiet. I walked slowly, one hand on the bannister. My legs ached a little on the stairs. I took each step carefully.
When I turned the corner, I nearly walked straight into someone
It was Gypsy.
She didn’t move, she was wearing one of her tight black dresses. Her heels tapped once against the floor as she stopped. Her eyes landed on my face, then dropped to my collarbone.
This time, I didn’t hide the hickey. I straightened my back and folded my arms slowly across my chest, letting her get a full look. I saw the way her mouth twitched, like she wanted to smirk but couldn’t quite pull it off.
She looked me over once, then gave a dry little laugh through her nose. “Subtle.”
1 tilted my head, watching her. “You don’t like me. That’s obvious but is there a reason?”
She didn’t answer.
“You broke up with Karl,” 1 added. “So what’s the problem?”
Her arms crossed tightly. She stepped a little closer, her heels clicked softly against the floor.
The problem,‘ she said, “is that he’s still obsessed with me.
1/2
Chapter 44
I blinked at her. My expression didn’t change, but my hands curled a little under my arms.
wife
I nodded once. “Right. But I’m his wife.”
Her eyes narrowed
“You don’t have to like me,” I went on. “You can keep playing the obsessive ex if that helps you sleep but don’t bother me, I don’t have the patience.”
I stepped past her. My shoulder grazed hers, harder than necessary. I didn’t look back.
I made my way down the hall, hands tucked into my sleeves, breathing steady. I turned the corner toward the garden doors, needing air or a distraction, something to wipe her face from my brain.
was focused on the floor and didn’t see the figure coming around the corner.
I walked straight into a wall. No…not a wall.
Karl.
I jolted back, nearly losing my balance, but his hands were already on me. One arm wrapped around my waist fast, the other braced behind my back. I didn’t fall. I didn’t even wobble.
I looked up at him. His face was close too close. His hands didn’t move.
He looked like he hadn’t slept. His shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbows, collar slightly open, top button undone. His hair was pushed back like he’d raked his hands through it one too many times. His eyes stayed on me, unmoving
I could feel his hands through the fabric of my sweater. His grip was firm. Grounded.
I didn’t step away
1s
I stayed exactly where I was, both palms pressed lightly to his chest.
I swallowed and looked up at him.
“Can we talk about the elephant in the room?” I asked, my voice quiet.
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