Page 9 of Branded Hearts

The answer to her question isyes. He’s always had this effect on me.

I look away for a moment, trying to fix my gaze on something other than my sister’s inquisitive face on the screen. “This crush is... It’s stupid. I’m being stupid.”

“You’re not stupid, just overly optimistic, I think. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a crush. It’s harmless.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I say, more to reassure myself than my sister. I take a deep breath, deciding to shift the conversation. “Anyway, how’s it going over there?” I ask, hearing Millie squealing and giggling in the background.

Kathryn catches on and shakes her head with a playful smirk. “It’s going,” she says with a laugh. “John is trying to catch Millie; he’s on bath duty tonight.”

I can just make out John’s voice in the background calling out, “Kat! Can you grab her for me at least?”

Millie’s cries suddenly echo through the background.

“Ugh, I think I should go, sis. John needs my help. Again.” She winks, and I chuckle softly.

“Sure, no problem. Give my love to the little munchkin over there.”

“Will do. And keep me updated on how you’re doing, please. Especially after everything today,” Kathryn says, concern etched on her face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, Kat! I’m fine.”

“Okay, okay. I’m just a phone call away, yeah?”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Kat.”

“Goodnight, Meli. Love you, and stay safe,” she adds, blowing a kiss.

“Night, love you, too!” I say before ending the call.

As it disconnects, I find myself staring at my phone wallpaper: an image from last Christmas—Kat, Millie, and I in matching Mickey Mouse pyjamas. My heart swells at the sight.

I can’t help but smile at how our conversations always feel so familiar. Sisters are like that, no matter the distance between us. I pause, taking in the quiet ambiance of my living room, softly lit by the warm glow of lamps. As I reflect on today, everything replays in my mind—the attempted robbery and then Bradley’s sudden appearance. Life really does throw unexpected surprises!

Sure, I’ve seen Bradley around quite a bit, especially when I visit Liv. We crossed paths at Christmas and then again at Isla and Xavier’swedding earlier this year. Despite all these encounters, we’ve never really gone beyond a polite hello or a smile. Part of it is nerves, I suppose. Bradley has this aura about him—kind of intimidating, in a way.

And nothing has changed.

Ten years later and he still intrigues me, still excites me, still makes me nervous. It’s just funny how in a small town like ours, our paths have always seemed to skirt around each other without everreallyconverging. Not that I’ve actively avoided it—well, maybe he has, too, now that I think about it.

But why? It’s a question that lingers in my mind now.

I stroll to the window, drawing back the curtains to reveal twilight’s painted sky. It’s quiet outside, with the street lamps casting a warm glow. Night brings a sense of peace, a time to reflect and savour the little joys.

After closing the curtains and turning off the lamps, I slip into bed. Moonlight softly filters through the window, and I embrace the quiet of the night. Despite the peaceful ambiance, worry still lingers in the back of my mind. The events of today keep replaying—flashes of fear and adrenaline. My heart races at the memory of the robbery, the panic in the air, and the relief when the police arrived. Seeing Bradley in the midst of it all only added to the whirlwind of emotions.

I hug my pillow tighter, trying to shake off the unease.

3

The events of yesterday loom over me like a shadow, and I can’t shake the memory of it. As my pen scratches across the paperwork, my mind drifts to the unexpected sighting of Amelia. The image of her shocked face keeps replaying in my mind like a haunting echo.

She would’ve been terrified; and that’s probably an understatement.

Witnessing something like that is bad enough, but being caught up in it is a whole different story. I remember the look in her eyes—pure fear. It’s a feeling that sticks with you, no matter how much you try to shake it off.

I’d checked in with the paramedic after she’d dismissed her yesterday, just to make sure she was really okay. The paramedic reassured me that she was, but here I am, still fucking worrying about her.

I can’t help it. The way she looked at me, the vulnerability in her eyes... It’s not something I can just easily forget.

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