Page 49 of The Beat of her Heart

Giselle had been so hopeful then, sodetermined that love would overcome whatever obstacles came their way. But in the end, her parents’ lack of acceptance, the constant arguments, and the stress—all of it had been too much.

And now...she glanced at the door, her mind drifting to Addie. They weren’t anything official. She hadn’t let herself get close enough for that, but the thought lingered like a quiet warning.

What if her parents’ disapproval somehow tainted this too, drove another wedge into something that hadn’t even had a chance to begin?

Her phone chimed again, the screen flashing with another message from her mother:Just let us know you’re okay.

Giselle picked it up and stared at the words, her thumb tracing the edge of the phone. She hated that this one message could unearth all the feelings she thought she’d buried.

16

ADDIE

Addie leaned back in her seat, staring at the space on her desk where her phone had been just moments ago. She’d turned down Giselle’s coffee invitation that afternoon, even though she’d wanted to say yes.

She hadn’t felt a pull toward anyone like this in years, and it had come with an intensity she hadn’t been prepared for, leaving her battling between her growing attraction and the need to stay cautious, for her own sake and Sophie’s.

The kisses were one thing—brief, undeniable moments that deepened a connection Addie didn’t quite know how to name. But acoffee date? That felt different. The idea of letting herself feel more than desire stirred a hesitation that even her quiet yearning for Giselle couldn’t quell.

Picking up her phone again, she quickly dialed Alex and requested a pick-up. She gathered her things, her mind lingering on those glances she’d shared with Giselle, the brief touches, the way Giselle’s face softened when she thought no one was watching.

A part of Addie wanted to know where this could lead, but another part held back. She couldn’t risk bringing someone so close to her, not unless she knew she could trust them.

Soon enough, her car pulled up and she slipped into the backseat, sinking into the soft leather. Alex nodded in the rearview mirror. “Heading home, ma’am?”

“Yes, thank you,” she replied.

As they drove through the city, Addie’s thoughts wandered back to Sophie, to the quiet mornings spent at the breakfast table, the laughter filling the kitchen when Sophie recounted her school stories, her animated hands waving as she described every detail.

Addie couldn’t afford to risk Sophie’shappiness for something she wasn’t certain of. Sophie had never seen her in a relationship with someone. And as much as Addie wanted to explore what was happening with Giselle, she didn’t want Sophie to get attached to someone who was just going to leave.

The car pulled up in front of her house and she stepped out, nodding a quick thanks to Alex. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, the quiet of her home wrapping around her as she shut the door.

She kicked off her shoes by the entryway, crossing through the hallway with a faint, lingering ache in her chest.

It was still early afternoon; Sophie would be at school for another hour. For a moment, Addie hesitated in the hallway, the pull of her thoughts still caught between what was and what might be. Finally, she pushed herself forward and stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Addie turned on the shower and stepped into the warm stream as she let the day’s events wash over her. The memory of Giselle, the coffee invitation she’d turned down, and those quiet, unexpected momentsbetween them ran through her mind, as vivid as if they’d just happened seconds ago.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to recall every detail of their encounters. There was something in the way Giselle’s gaze lingered that made Addie feel seen in a way she hadn’t in so long.

A part of her wished she’d accepted that coffee invitation. Being with Giselle—whether in the middle of a hectic surgery or an unexpected conversation—left her with a sense of calm, a subtle warmth.

She’d resisted the idea of falling for anyone, especially with Sophie in her life. But with Giselle, it felt harder and harder to convince herself that wasn’t exactly what she wanted.

She sighed, stepping out of the shower and wrapping herself in a towel. She caught her reflection briefly in the mirror and gave herself a small, resigned smile before heading to the bedroom to get dressed.

As she made her way to the living room, Addie heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. She glanced through the window and saw Alex arriving with Sophie in the backseat.

Opening the front door, she stepped outside as Sophie got out of the car and ran to her with a wide grin.

“Mom!” Sophie’s laughter was contagious as her arms wrapped around Addie in a quick hug.

“Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?”

“Good! Natalie and I played together all afternoon,” Sophie said, her words rushing out with excitement.

Addie chuckled, listening to Sophie’s stories as they headed inside together. The evening passed in a comforting blur of homework, dinner, and bedtime routines, though Giselle’s image lingered in Addie’s mind and a quiet anticipation settled in.Tomorrow, she thought.I’ll see her tomorrow.

---