Page 11 of One Hot Summer

Things have been escalating between us, but honestly how could I expect anything different? My heart has always been hers, and even if she didn’t know that, maybe I need to give her some space. She has been through so much in the last two years. Not that she told me, but her brother is always willing to give me information when I ask for an update. Not knowing he is only fueling my quest in finding out if she was okay.

The crunch of gravel outside alerts me to her arrival and I sit down on the couch and try to act like I haven’t been waiting around for her on edge for hours.

The front door creaks open, and I hear the soft patter of rain-soaked footsteps on the hardwood floor. My heart races as I catch a whiff of her familiar scent mingling with the damp air. I keep my eyes fixed on the TV screen, pretending to be engrossed in some late-night infomercial.

“Carson?”

I turn to face her, my breath catching in my throat. Her chestnut hair is plastered to her face, raindrops clinging to her lashes like tiny crystals. Her green eyes, usually so warm and vibrant, seem clouded with an emotion I can't decipher.

“Hey,” I manage, trying to keep my voice casual. “Everything okay?”

She nods, but her fingers twist nervously at the hem of her soaked shirt. “Yeah, I... I'm sorry I'm late. I should've called.”

I want to rush to her, to wrap her in my arms and never let go. But I hold back, remembering my earlier resolve to give her space. “No worries. I'm just glad you're home safe.”

Kelsie's eyes dart around the room, landing anywhere but on me. “How's Collin?”

“Out like a light since eight,” I reply, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the tension in the air. “Kid wore himself out building pillow forts.”

A ghost of a smile flickers across her face, but it doesn't reach her eyes. She takes a step towards me, then seems to think better of it. “I should... I should go change. I'm dripping all over your floor.”

As she turns to leave, I can't help but notice the slight tremor in her hands, the way her shoulders hunch. Something happened tonight, something beyond just losing track of time with Mandy.

I want to call out to her, to ask what's wrong, to offer comfort. But the words stick in my throat, held back by the fear of pushing too hard, too fast. Instead, I watch her retreat up the stairs, the sound of her footsteps fading away, leaving me alone with the relentless patter of rain against the windows and the gnawing worry in my gut.

Whatever demons Kelsie's battling, I silently vow to be there for her, even if it means watching from the sidelines. For now, at least, until she's ready to let me in.

The soft creak of floorboards above my head tells me Kelsie's moving around upstairs. I strain my ears, trying to decipher her movements, wondering if I should go up there. But no, I remind myself. Space. She needs space.

I turn off the TV, plunging the room into near darkness. The rain continues its steady drumming against the windows. I lean back on the couch, closing my eyes, but sleep feels impossibly far away.

Sometime later – minutes or hours, I'm not sure – I hear her descending the stairs. My eyes snap open. Kelsie stands at the bottom of the staircase, wrapped in an oversized sweater, her damp hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looks small, vulnerable, nothing like the strong woman I've known for years.

“I thought you'd gone to asleep.”

I sit up, running a hand through my hair. “Was about to,” I admit. “You okay?”

She hesitates, then takes a few steps closer. “Not really,” she whispers, and the raw honesty in her voice makes my heart ache.

I pat the space next to me on the couch, an invitation. She accepts, curling up beside me, close but not touching.

“Want to talk about it?”

She takes a deep breath, her fingers twisting in the hem of the shirt. “Tonight, with Mandy... We ran into someone. Someone from... before.”

I feel my muscles tense, a protective instinct surging through me. “Who?” Kelsie's eyes fill with tears, and before I can stop myself, I'm on my feet, closing the distance between us. I reach out, my hand hovering just shy of touching her face. “Kels?”

She leans into my touch, her cheek warm against my palm. “It was my ex-husband,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “The one who... who…”

I don't need her to finish the sentence. I know the story, the pain this man inflicted on her. Anger burns hot in my chest, but I push it down, focusing on Kelsie. “Did he hurt you?”

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. “Carson, I thought I was stronger than this.”

I pull her into my arms then, unable to resist any longer. She melts against me. I hold Kelsie close, feeling her body tremble against mine. My heart aches for her, for the pain she's endured, for the strength she doesn't realize she possesses.

“You are strong,” I murmur into her hair. “Stronger than you know.”

She pulls back slightly, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Am I? Because seeing him tonight... I froze, Carson. All those memories came flooding back, and I couldn't breathe, couldn't think.”

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