Page 43 of Burn for Me
Turning his face away, not wanting to watch her walking out the door with his heart in her hands, Gray never said another word. Hearing the soft click of the door to the garage, he grabbed the glass on the table beside him. With a roar filled with all the pain and anger he was feeling, he threw it across the room. Watched it shatter against the opposite wall. Just like it felt his heart was doing.
* * *
Kitty wassure she’d made the right choice. But if that were the case, why did it hurt so much? She’d been drifting through the days in a haze. Almost as if she were living someone else’s life. Nothing seemed as it should. It all felt wrong and out of sync. She didn’t even know how much time had gone by. Days? Weeks?
When the buzzer had rung for the gate, she’d contemplated not answering. She’d been avoiding Morgan and Lee, but her friends were being persistent. It would only be a matter of time before they showed up at her door.
But when she went to answer, she was surprised to find Kyle on the other end.
“Open up, Kitty. I’d like to talk to you.”
“Kyle, I’m not sure it’s the best idea.”
“I’m not leaving until we’ve spoken, Kitty.”
Hanging her head, she sighed. “Fine. Come up.”
Kitty waited by the door. But when she saw Kyle step off the lift, she almost lost her nerve. Very nearly closed the door. Stiffening her spine, she accepted the fact that he wouldn’t be put off, and she’d only be delaying the inevitable.
As he reached her, she stepped aside. After he stepped past her, Kitty swung the door shut.
“Come through to the living room,” she said as she headed down the passage. Going to stand in the middle of the room, she turned to Kyle. “What can I do for you, Kyle?”
For long moments, Kyle didn’t answer. He merely studied her. As the silence stretched, Kitty shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. And finally, when she could stand it no longer, she saw his shoulders drop. As if he’d been braced for something that hadn’t come. Then he spoke.
“I came here intending to rip you a new one, but you look as bad as he does.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I was so pissed off at you for hurting Gray and intended telling you just how pissed off. But looking at you, I haven’t got it in me. You look as shell-shocked as he does.”
Kitty didn’t know how to answer that statement, so she didn’t. She stood, waiting for Kyle to continue.
“The worst of it is, I can’t say I was surprised. Or that I can really blame you. And that almost pisses me off more. I don’t want to feel empathy for what you’re going through. You hurt a good man, Kitty. And that’s not cool.”
“Please don’t, Kyle. I know I hurt him.” Swallowing down a lump, Kitty cleared her throat. “I didn’t do it out of spite. I just cannot find a way to live that life. Worried each day might be the last I see him. Don’t you see? It’s best to walk away now, before it’s too late.”
“Before it’s too late for...?”
“Before it’s too late and I fall in love with him.”
“I’ve got news for you, Kitty.” Kyle took her by the shoulders and guided her over to a mirror hanging on the wall. “Take a really good, hard look in that mirror.”
Confused, Kitty looked at Kyle through the mirror. “I don’t follow.”
“When did you last have a good night’s sleep, Kitty?”
Kyle’s question caught her off guard.Good question. When had she last had a good night’s sleep?Thinking back, Kitty was shocked to realise it had been before she’d broken things off with Gray.
“Since before I broke up with Gray,” Kitty replied reluctantly.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Kyle shook his head. “You silly woman. It’s plain as day for anyone who’s looking. It’s already too late.” All Kitty could do was stare at Kyle, speechlessly. He stared back before saying, “I’ll see myself out.”
She stood there for a long time after she heard him leave, too stunned to move. Eventually, not sure how much time had passed, Kitty made her way over to the sofa and fell onto it, her mind in turmoil.
Walking away from Gray hadseemedlike the smart thing to do at the time. Emotions were high and things had been said in the passion of the argument. Things she wasn’t proud to own up to. But she hadn’t seen her way clear to living like that every day for the rest of her life. Fearing for his lifeevery timehe left for work.
Panic and fear had been her constant companions from the moment Kyle had told her Gray was trapped in a burning building. Uncomfortable companions at best. To be fair, he didn’t fight fires regularly anymore. But his job still held that element of risk.
