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N I N E T Y - E I G H T
Kate sat at the counter, tapping her foot lightly against the metal base of the stool, black-painted nails drumming on the reactive glaze of her mug, glasses fogging up as she took a long sip of coffee. Soft music trickled from Colton’s ancient boom box, stashed precariously in the narrow corner of the countertop; his first port of call every morning. It had quickly become Kate’s favourite part of the day, hearing the hard click of the switch, followed by the grainy tunes dancing through the quiet apartment, Colton’s raspy morning voice joining in on the symphony. She smiled at the thought, flipping over the page of the newspaper as she mouthed along to the old school rock filtering through the kitchen.
The front door creaked as it opened, Kate’s gaze traversing over her shoulder and smiling at the sweaty figure slipping through the entrance. His wifebeater was bunched in his fist, basketball shorts sitting low on the deep v crease of his hips, his thi
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Rude Awakenings N I N E T Y - N I N E
The bed squeaked as Kate shifted, one arm sleepily reaching out for the solid mass that was Colton. Her palm hit cool linen, the empty space beside her in Paloma’s small spare bed feeling gigantic. There was no lingering scent of cigarettes, no woody leather or mint from his toothpaste drifting in her direction, no soothing touch from his callused fingertips… It always took her being away from him to realize just how prominent his presence was in her life. The memories of yesterday morning came flooding back; the envelope, the photograph, Colton kicking her out again.From beside her, her cell vibrated – almost off the nightstand where she’d precariously balanced it before she fell asleep – and she jolted upright, scrambling to answer the call. She’d planned to be furious at Colton, but the lack of his presence had made her far too forgiving… already.“Hello?”“Hey, sorry I missed your
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D
Boots thumped up the staircase, a harsh clomp that resounded in Colton’s ears – yet another set of feet that weren’t Kate’s. He’d called fuck knows how many times, each time the phone ringing out, her sweet lilt echoing through the speaker, requesting he leave a message. He had. Too many to count, desperation sinking in as he reverted from casually wanting to talk to pleading for her to return his calls. Just as his thoughts wandered to the image of Harry’s hand against her forearm burned in his mind, the door handle twisted, Colton’s eyes snapping across to watch. It turned one way and then the other, before a hard fist collided with the wood, a loud knock echoing through the apartment. Dark brows knitted together, the realization that it wasn’t Kate returning only making way for more questions.Pushing himself off the kitchen stool, he padded to the front door, bare feet scuffing against the floor. As his hand hit the co
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & O N E
“Yeah… okay, if you think it’s the best idea,” Paloma sighed, picking at the chipped edge of her teacup, brown eyes rolling as she glanced toward Kate. “Uh-huh. Well, it makes no sense to me, but if you insist… okay, see you tomorrow. Yeah, I love you too. Bye. Bye. Yes, Heath, buh-bye.” Clicking off her phone, she laughed, rubbing the corners of her eyes as she shook her head. “I willneverunderstand how men’s friendships work.”“Why? What happened?” She nibbled on one of the cookies Paloma had laid out before her, hoping her interest in Colton’s reaction came off nonchalant and casual.Paloma didn’t buy it, one eyebrow rising smugly as she sipped her tea. “Colton didn’t take it too well, but did you really think it’d go any differently?” She waited for Kate’s solemn head shake before continuing. “Heath told me to leave be
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T W O
“Hey Katie baby, you miss me?”Her heart dropped, stomach slowly swirling down into the depths of the drain beneath her feet; terrified eyes glazed with a sheet of tears stared up at the man before her, horror embedded in her ashen features. Shaking fingers tugged at the too-short hem of her dress, desperately attempting to cover the vast amount of skin Paloma insisted on her showing. Hesitantly, she tore her gaze from his, rapidly scanning the cubicles in the hopes of finding a locked door, an indication that someone was here to help her… or die with her. The thought slithered through her veins, an icy snake that turned her blood cold.“Wh-what are you d-doing here?” she stammered, scuffling backward just enough to give her room to breathe. She sucked in a hefty breath, the rancid air of the bathroom penetrated by the insufferable blanket of his cologne.Unnaturally straight teeth swept into a wide grin, the suaveness of his voice
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T H R E E
“You…” his words trailed off, his smooth voice of disbelief reminding her for a millisecond of Colton; of the way he struggled so often to believe she loved him, to believe she wouldn’t run away. He was messed up, but she knew that when she met him, when she fell in love with him. Her heart sank at the thought of him sitting in their apartment, wondering how the hell they could make this work… wondering if it was possible for him to ever be in a healthy, functioning relationship. It sank lower at the thought that maybe it wasn’t.“You love me?” Preston’s voice banged through her ears, drawing her back to the rancid bathroom, to the preened man before her with his baby blue eyes wide in disbelief. “I - I didn’t think you’d admit it.”Kate wondered if he knew what she was playing at, that her declaration was nothing more than a farce to help her escape this situation alive, but the genu
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F O U R
Preston’s dapper suit, tightly wrapped around his muscular body, stood out in the crowd, a drink in each hand as he maneuvered effortlessly through the throngs of dancing people, ignoring any and all attempts from the scantily-clad women who aimed to distract him from his task. Without knowing his psychotic personality, he could be easily mistaken for a catch - handsome, charming, oozing an air of wealthy superiority - and given the slim pickings currently grinding their way through the dance floor, Kate could understand why he had garnered so much female attention.Azure eyes honed in on her, his dismissive glare transforming into a warm smile as he slipped between the last few lingerers on the outskirts of the floor, sliding the drinks onto the table.“Thank you for getting them for us,” Kate strained a smile, the nauseating pulsing of her stomach revving up as she realized he was waiting for some form of affection from her. She stood st
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F I V E
The crack of knuckle on jaw pierced through the thick veil of ear-splitting music, Preston’s face lurching to the side in slow-motion, a horrifying spatter of blood spraying from his warbling lips. Through her fog, Kate watched his eyes widen, unwillingly releasing her from his grasp as he stumbled back. Small gasps echoed from the people congregating around, their distorted movements to the beat coming to a standstill. The shock that had implanted in the deep crevices of his forehead dissipated, rage washing over him, turning olive cheeks scarlet. The tension in the air was palpable, the anticipation and dread clawing in the pit of her stomach as Kate’s gaze flickered to the officer, to the voice she’d heard, ensuring they were well prepared, well equipped, for the wrath of Preston Abbot.The tug of her stomach joined with the cinching ache in her chest, knocking the breath clean from her lungs as she caught sight of the absolute fury contorting Colto
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & S I X
Once again, Kate found herself tracking the well-worn carpet in the reception of the police lock-up, gnawing the nubs left of her nails as she stared at the door, heart thudding as she awaited its opening; the last thing keeping her and Colton apart. Unsettlingly happy music garbled from somewhere behind the Perspex, the receptionist irritatingly tapping her pen against the desk while her foot clunked atop the metal base of her chair. “I’m so sorry,” Paloma whispered from the seating area, her knees bouncing as she tucked her hands between them, guilt distorting her smeared make-up. “Why did you call him? Why not the police like I asked you to?” Kate hissed, unable to tear her gaze from the door, the anticipation clawing at her stomach. “There was a man standing behind me and I… I thought he was with Preston and I panicked. I texted Heath,” she mumbled. “I told him to call the police. I - I didn’t know what to do. I’m - I’m so sorry, Kate.” “I…” She s
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