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S E V E N T Y - F I V E
Heath’s fist clenched against the metal table, knuckles protruding so fiercely his skin appeared translucent, while Paloma’s features sunk in disappointment. Kate had half a mind to march to the bar, scold Colton for his shitty behavior and drag his ass back to the table, but she knew that, for the moment, the best thing she could do was attempt to redeem the happiness surrounding the announcement. Pointing toward the glass of lemonade, Kate raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “So, you weren’t drinking vodka sodas earlier?”
Lifting her gaze from the torn skin of her nails, Paloma blew out a breath in amusement. A smile glimmered on her face, Heath’s stern features relaxing just a fraction. “It was water,” she laughed. “But I’m glad to know that if you see me drinking clear liquid, your first assumption is vodka.”
Shrugging indifferently, Kate smiled, rapping her fingers against the cool steel. “So, tell
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Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - S I X
Dropping her bag on the table by the front door, Kate kicked off her shoes, watching them fly in different directions; one landing beside the sofa, the other by the television. Colton slipped in through the opening behind her, stumbling onto the sofa and flicking on the TV. Rolling her eyes, Kate locked the door, averting his reaching grasp as she moved toward the bathroom.“It’s only 9:30,” he whined. “You’re not going to bed, are you?”Shutting herself in the tiled confines, Kate took in a deep breath, enjoying the fleeting silence. Colton’s loud, aggravated groan reverberated from the lounge-room, the heavy clomp of black boots testing their wooden floors. Kate pitied their downstairs neighbor; the boots exacerbating his usual stomp. Hurriedly stripping, she turned on the faucet, thankful for the near-instantaneous expulsion of warm water as she jumped in.The door flung open, Colton’s broad physique taking up m
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - S E V E N
Stubbing out the last of his cigarette, Colton glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the lighter sparking up once more. His client, Tony, gave a crooked smile, smoke escaping the side of his mouth before extending his half-empty packet. Colton shook his head. “I literally just put one out. So did you, for that matter.”“You sound like my wife,” Tony complained, weathered hands rubbing over his bald head.The smell of smoke hit Colton’s nostrils, his mind searching for a distraction to avoid having another. Toying with his own packet, his fingers pushed back the cardboard, straightening it out before tearing it again. “You know, when I give these things up, you won’t be coming out here for fifteen-minute breaks during your sessions anymore.”Tony snorted, a cloud of smoke drifting from his bulbous, broken nose. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”“Just you wait,” Colton chuckl
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - E I G H T
“What’s the occasion?” Kate called out, touching up the few curls around her face that had loosened in her haste to get ready. She stared in the mirror, adjusting the twirled straps of her low-cut, burgundy dress. She’d bought it on a whim online but it revealed more cleavage than she would’ve liked, and she self-consciously pulled at the fabric in an attempt to cover up a touch more. The flowy material fell just past her knee, a deep red that swirled and bloomed with every slight movement she made. Readjusting her top once more, she flicked curled hair over her shoulder and slipped in a pair of gold hoops.The banging and clanging in the bathroom ceased, the door clicking open. “He does this shit every yea… holy shit.” Colton’s grumbles petered off, the new found rasp making Kate’s stomach erupt in an avalanche of butterflies. Her eyes met his in the reflection of the mirror, heart fluttering at the sight of his wa
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - N I N E
The ding of the oven had Kate leaping up from the floor, skidding against the wooden floorboards as she rounded the counter. She giggled at the stumble, the half bottle of red wine making her unsteady. Colton guffawed from the lounge, a giddy snort escaping him as he ran his fingers through his hair. It was still stiff from the gel but he was slowly working it into his usual mess. Blowing her hair from her forehead, Kate waved her arms in front of her, wafting away the humid air blustering from the oven. “Why is it so hot?”“It’s a fucking oven, babe,” Colton snorted, fumbling with the remote to pause the comedy special they’d barely been watching. “I’d be concerned if it was cold.”After hurriedly dropping the cake pan on the stove, she hurled an oven glove in his direction, erupting into a fit of drunken giggles at his surprise. “Ha-ha, you’re a fucking comedian. I just meant it feels hotter than norma
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y
Checking his watch, Colton respired. 11:30 could not come fast enough. Billy had told him not to worry about coming back after the appointment, and he couldn’t wait to surprise Kate – maybe take her to a movie or out for dinner. He’d been unable to concentrate on much else the whole morning, even getting knocked on his ass by a smarmy teen in the self-defense class. The little twat had been so goddamn snide; it had taken him every ounce of strength he had not to belt the smirk off his pimply face. The last twenty minutes of that class was the only time that morning that he hadn’t stared at the clock. He made sure that little shit was his partner for every demonstration, and he made sure that he used a little more force than necessary every time. But as soon as Chad, the fucking prick, left the building, he was right back to watching the second hand tick by ridiculously slow. He knew the appointment was just a preliminary check-up, a quick once over to make su
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - O N E
The metal door clicked open, creaking ajar only a small amount as Kate paced the waiting room nervously. Manicured nails had been whittled to the skin, her heart racing as she wondered what was stopping them from swinging open the door fully. Through the gap, Kate could see a well-worn hand against the steel handle, could hear the chatter of men. The tremble of her own hands hadn’t subsided since she’d received Colton’s phone-call – his raw voice telling her he was in jail, followed by a blur of instructions on how to withdraw his bail money. She’d raced to the county jail, eroding a scuffed path over their dirty carpet as she paced back and forth for what felt like hours. She could vaguely hear the receptionist asking her to be seated, but Kate couldn’t – her shivering body not allowing her to be stagnant.Folding her arms across her chest, one hand lifted to her mouth, biting the stinging skin of her nail-bed, her gaze remained glue
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - T W O
“It’s just through here.”Swinging open the door, Kate stepped aside, allowing Georgia to slowly shuffle into the spare bedroom. Red, swollen eyes drifted around the room, taking in the fluffy, black comforter thrown atop the twin bed, the antique lamp inherited from Kate’s grandmother centered on the mahogany nightstand and the small, hexagonal mirrors positioned above the gray headboard. Chewing her lower lip, Georgia stepped toward the neatly-organized bookshelf nestled in the corner, a pink acrylic nail brushing along the spine of one of the books. “The Haunting of Hill House,” she mumbled, nodding her head in approval. “Like the show?”Resting against the door frame, Kate kept her arms folded, straining an uncomfortable smile as she nodded. “Feel free to read it. It’s a good book.”Georgia stayed quiet, continuing her scan of the room, eyes settling on the framed photo of Colton and
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - T H R E E
The rumble of the car engine was the only sound filling the silent void. In the front seat, Kate picked her nails, weary eyes watching the buildings speed by, a burst of color flashing through the unsettling mash of gray once every so often. Glancing at Colton, knuckles white against the black steering wheel, she gave an appreciative smile, resting her palm against the strained muscle of his thigh. Chauffeuring Georgia to her new accommodation was the last thing he wanted to do – he’d told her many times over the course of the morning – but she was grateful he’d agreed to come with her. Peeking over her shoulder, Kate caught the pointed glare of icy blue eyes, burning furiously into the affectionate gesture of Kate’s hand on Colton’s thigh. Her gaze darted up to Kate, the heated stare dissolving quickly as her taut face contorted into an unnatural smile. Awkwardly, Kate turned back to face the road, slowly sliding her hand from Colton’s blac
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