Page 9 of Blazing Hearts

Mallory: No promises. You might need to come to my rescue later.

Kara laughed softly, shaking her head.

Kara: Anytime, mysterious stranger.

She set her phone down on the counter, the faint buzz of excitement still running through her. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at the device as if it might blink back to life with another message from Mallory. But the screen stayed dark, and Kara finally let herself breathe.

The kitchen felt quieter now, the earlier hum of conversation fading into the background of her thoughts. The sunlight streaming through the blinds had shifted, casting angled shadows across the floor. Kara took a long stretch, her body still waking up fully from the night before, and let her mind wander back to Mallory.

Kara wasn’t used to being surprised, not like this.

She walked to the window, mug in hand, and looked out at the city beyond. The view from her apartment wasn’t spectacular, but it offered a glimpse of life moving outside—cars threading through the streets, a couple walking their dog on the sidewalk below, the distant hum of a bus pulling into a stop. It was ordinary, grounding.

She took another sip of her coffee and leaned against the window frame, her thoughts drifting. Usually, she wouldn’t give much thought to a one-night stand after it ended. A fun memory, sure, but nothing more. She liked keeping things simple, leaving attachments at the door.

But Mallory…

Kara exhaled, a soft laugh escaping her.What is it about you?

The lingering pull she felt wasn’t something she could pin down. It was quiet but persistent, a thread connecting her to Mallory even now. She thought about Mallory’s laugh, the way it had softened the edges of her otherwise reserved demeanor. She thought about the spark in her eyes when she teased Kara, the way her words carried an undercurrent of curiosity, as if she were figuring Kara out in real time.

And then there was the moment they’d shared that morning, sitting across from each other with coffee in hand, the kind of comfortable silence that spoke louder than words. It had felt easy, natural, like slipping into a rhythm they both already knew.

Kara shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung stubbornly.

* * *

The rest of the day passed in quiet fits and starts. She moved through her routine without much thought—washing the dishes left in the sink, throwing a load of laundry into the machine, tidying the cluttered coffee table in the living room. Every now and then, she’d catch herself glancing at her phone, the memory of their conversation still fresh.

By the time she’d finished folding the laundry, the city outside had shifted into afternoon. The light filtering through the blinds had taken on a warmer hue, softening the edges of the room. Kara stood in the middle of her apartment, hands on her hips, and let out a long breath.

Her phone buzzed softly from the counter. She reached for it instinctively, her pulse skipping for a brief second before she realized it wasn’t Mallory—it was Scotti, her friend, sending another round of teasing messages about the previous night.

Scotti: Sooooo… Are you gonna spill, or are we supposed to guess what happened after you ditched us?

Kara smirked, shaking her head as she replied.

Kara: Maybe I just needed some fresh air.

Scotti: Uh-huh. Sure. Fresh air that looked like a hot redhead?

Kara: None of your business, nosy.

Scotti: Oh, it will be eventually. You can’t hide forever.

Kara chuckled, setting her phone back down. She didn’t mind Scotti’s nosiness—it was part of the package deal with her group of friends—but she wasn’t ready to share this yet. Whateverthiswas.

As she grabbed her jacket and keys, ready to step out for a walk, she found herself glancing at her phone one last time. The screen was still dark, but the echo of Mallory’s words lingered in her mind.

“For the record, though, I’m glad you didn’t let me stay mysterious.”

3

MALLORY

Mallory stepped into the bustling hallway of Phoenix Ridge Hospital, her heart pounding in a way she hadn’t expected. The sterile yet comforting scent of antiseptic filled the air as the hum of activity swirled around her—nurses rushing by, doctors conferring in quiet corners, the soft beep of monitors drifting from nearby rooms. She tried to steady herself, feeling the weight of anticipation and nerves settle in her chest. This was it, the beginning of a new chapter, a fresh start.

Her old hospital, the one where she’d spent years perfecting her craft, felt like a lifetime ago now. She’d left behind the familiar faces, the established routines. This was Phoenix Ridge, where everything was new—new patients, new colleagues, and most importantly, a new beginning for herself. For the first time in a while, she felt like she was shedding an old skin, ready to become something new.

---