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E I G H T Y - F I V E
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Darkness shrouded the still bedroom, aside from the glint of the streetlight peeking through the curtained window. The bed squeaked as Kate rolled over, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what Colton was doing now. On the street below, the distant roar of car engines rumbled past, muffled music coming from somewhere across the road. Florence’s lullaby-singing bear hummed from the adjacent room, the fan in Paloma’s bedroom whirring noisily while the clock above her dresser ticked monotonously. Fiddling with the silky edge of the comforter, Kate exhaled, stretching across to grab her phone from the nightstand. Irritation flickered through her anxiety-ridden body at Colton’s lack of communication. Every time she felt like things were back on track, that she and Colton were heading in the right direction, it took a turn and they ended up right back where they started. She thought these kinds of arguments were behind them, but it was clear Colton was still struggling
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Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - S I X
Standing by the large front windows of Fourth Street Café, Kate peeked through the glass, scanning the cramped dining room for any sign of him, but found none. Returning to Paloma’s disapproving glare, Kate let out a shaky breath, the whoosh of air from a passing bus sending brown waves flying around her head, her hands lifting in a flustered attempt to smooth them. “Don’t look at me like that.”“This is a terrible fucking idea, Kate,” Paloma scolded, arms folding across her chest as she studied the cinnamon-speckled eyes before her. “Honestly, one of the worst ones yet. What the hell are you planning to get from this?”Ignoring the critical tone, Kate tugged her phone from her purse, clicking open the screen and closing it once again with a frustrated huff. “I need to do this… if he even shows up. I hope this isn’t just another one of his stupid games.”“Why do you ne
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - S E V E N
The wind whipped in from the car window, Paloma’s black waves flailing wildly around her face as she continued her scolding; Kate sinking further into her seat as if she were a teenager busted sneaking out at midnight. Propping her elbow against the door, Kate nestled her cheek into her palm, allowing her eyes to close while desperately attempting to tune out Paloma’s vexed jabber.“Are you even listening to me?”“No,” Kate admitted, head jerking as Paloma jolted the steering wheel to garner her attention. “Good God, are you insane?”“I think you are,” she snapped, shaking her head in disbelief at her friend’s casual indifference. “What in the world possessed you to meet with him? His number gets left in a notepad in your bedroom and the brilliant idea you come up with is to meet him?”“I know, it was stupid, but…” Kate trailed off, momentarily distra
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - E I G H T
Tugging her denim jacket tighter around her torso, Kate glanced across at the lake, the moon leaving a shimmery streak across its still waters. The nip in the air bristled against the shell of her ear, the hair on her neck rising as he shivered. Tangling her fingers with his, Colton pulled her into the warmth of his chest, one powerful arm encompassing her shoulders while the other rubbed his sated stomach as he groaned. Dinner had been an offbeat experience - an indulgent deviation from their typical cheap burger joint or Chinese take-out - one for which they were far too underdressed. The sting of heat in her cheeks remained as she remembered the flash of disdain from the elegantly dressed host, beady eyes skimming their jeans. It hadn’t faxed Colton in the slightest, face lighting up gleefully at the bulging of the waiter’s eyes as he removed his jacket, tattoo sleeves visible to the stiff upper-lip clientele of the restaurant. Once dinner had been eaten - Colton’s with an extra-
Rude Awakenings E I G H T Y - N I N E
After an achingly slow descent, Colton’s arm tightly constricting Kate’s shoulder with every jolt and wobble of the carriage, the attendant shuffled over, unlocking the gate and swinging it open with a hefty creak. Now that she was aware of his discomfort with heights, Kate noticed the intensity with which his fingers gripped the metal rail and the wave of relief that washed over his face as his feet hit solid ground.“You okay?” she grinned, wrapping her arm around his back as he gave her an unimpressed sideways glare.“Yes, I’m fine,” he scoffed, poking out his tongue as he tugged her into him. “What do you want to do now?”Shrugging, Kate glanced over at expansive set-up covering more than half the parking lot, flimsy steels fences buckling together, surrounding a collection of hay bales and a random bath-tub, an influx of small children inside, squealing with delight as piglets sniffed and gru
Rude Awakenings N I N E T Y
The chaos of the fair grew more and more muted as they hurried back around the lake, the flashing lights creating colorful patterns in the distance. Colton’s fingers curled around hers, forcing her feet to dance across the pavement in a frenzied step as their red SUV finally coming into view, parked gloriously beneath the glow of the streetlight.“Why’d you park there?” Kate grumbled, the ache in her belly growing more impatient, eager to be soothed by Colton’s touch.“It was the only ... never mind. Just hurry up and get in,” he commanded and Kate’s thighs clenched in anticipation.With a teasing eye roll, Kate slid into the front seat, sucking in her lower lip as she watched Colton’s jacket tighten across his broad back, his body hunching to get into his seat. Dark eyes glimmered as he glanced over, his hand rising to grasp the soft skin of her jawline, tugging her closer to plant a hard k
Rude Awakenings N I N E T Y - O N E
Adjusting the twisted waistband of his jeans with one hand, Colton wrapped the other around Kate’s shoulders, tacking sweet kisses along her temple and into the depths of her chocolate waves. The panic that shrouded them in the car gradually diffused as they drove, thanks to the ridiculous high-pitched whine Colton had tried to pass off as ‘singing’, his dark eyes alight at the sound of her laughter. As they hurried up the staircase, endorphins flooded Kate’s system; the ache between her thighs subsided, her heart swelling with every meager brush of his fingers across her shoulder and tender dab of his lips against her skin.Releasing her from his grasp, he entwined their fingers together, his free hand digging in his pocket for the house keys. “Did you throw out the rest of that pie?”“How are you not full?” Kate muttered. “You had two funnel cakes.”“I did not,” he scoffed, lifting a hand
Rude Awakenings N I N E T Y - T W O
Soft snores trickled from beside Kate in bed, Colton’s heavy arm crushing her to his heated chest as her fingers danced rhythmic circles in the thick, black spikes that fell dreamily on his forehead. He’d fallen asleep within minutes once she’d coaxed him to bed, his deep breaths telling her he needed it. The events of the last few weeks had taken their toll on him, the stress of the night consuming him; his body slouching in bed as Kate clambered beside him, rough hands sheathing her back and nuzzling her close, like a child with their comfort blanket. As she watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, the small parting between his lips that allowed a stream of air to escape, Kate allowed her mind to wander, just for a moment, reflecting back on the brash piece of work she’d met all those months ago. Being cocooned in his arms, her being bringing him solace in dark times, was something she could’ve never predicted.Aside from his light snores and the occasional grunt
Rude Awakenings N I N E T Y - T H R E E
Pulling into the parking lot of Bergstein & Associates, Colton’s harsh breath swirled through the cramped confines of the car, the anxious energy forcing his fingers to knock the wheel at a furious pace. Glancing toward him, Kate attempted to lick her lips but her tongue was dry, her throat void of any moisture. Brushing her palm against his thigh, he jumped, too absorbed in his own thoughts to be aware of his surroundings. She strained a smile as apprehensive eyes darted toward her. “You okay?”A slight nod shifted his messy bed hair, the floppy spikes falling down on his forehead. “I just wish he’d told me what this was for.”“I’m sure it’s all routine, baby,” Kate smiled reassuringly, leaning over to place a soft kiss against his furrowed brow. “If I recall,” she murmured, one fingertip dancing along his full lower lip. “You once told me that, and I quote, ‘do I look like t
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Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T W E N T Y
The hot water beat down on Kate’s tired body, doing little to ease the aches and pains of her exhausted muscles and absolutely nothing to diffuse the mental depletion she felt. Perpetually fatigued was now her permanent state of being, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She hurried to work the shampoo through her now shoulder-length brown hair, keeping one eye on the baby monitor that flashed on the vanity. She closed her eyes momentarily, silently praying that everyone stayed asleep for just five more minutes. Bubbles tingled across her pink chipped toenails - a reminder from her and Paloma’s last day out alone, sans kids. She stifled a giggle, remembering how Colton had phoned her, asking her a million questions while squeals echoed in the background. Upon her return, he had met her at the door, black tee covered in spit-up and mashed banana while exhausted eyes stared at her gratefully. The click of the bathroom door dragged her from her thoughts, squinting eye
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & N I N E T E E N
Colton’s wide eyes stared back at Kate, as she panted through yet another excruciating contraction; her entire pelvis spreading apart to allow their baby to enter the world. The floral tones of Bernadette’s perfume wafted through the room as she returned, snapping on a pair of blue latex gloves, a stack of blue sheets tucked under her arm. Another woman trudged behind, not clearly as enthused as Bernadette, sanitizing her hands before sliding on her own pair of gloves. Snapping her gum, she made her way over to the machine beside Kate’s bed, mature hazel eyes peering over square glasses to scan the paper slowly rolling from the machine.“Okay, Kate,” Bernadette chirped from the end of the bed, her short hair curled eloquently atop her head. Kate took in the swirls of brown, ebbing and flowing across her crown as she pushed through another surge of pain. “Kate,” Bernadette smiled, patting Kate’s bare leg to garner her atten
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & E I G H T E E N
Shivering as she swept the blankets off her bloated body, Kate groaned, awkwardly clambering from the bed, one hand attempting to massage her lower back as she waddled to the bathroom. The sun had begun to rise, its rays just starting to seep through the small crack of their curtain. It bounced off Colton’s watch face, illuminating a soft glowy spot on the roof. She cast a glance over her shoulder, unable to help the smile that grew across her face at Colton’s muffled snores, his bare torso exposed with one inked hand resting atop it. His wedding ring glistened ever so slightly in the dewy dawn light. She’d always assumed married life would feel no different and for the first few weeks, aside from the bubbling excitement that they’d actually gone through with it, it hadn’t, but as the weeks turned to months, Kate grew to understand exactly why people did it. Knowing that Colton had wholeheartedly committed himself to her for the rest of his life was an
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & S E V E N T E E N
The car jounced down the dirt road, wheels spinning stray flecks of gravel through the air. The sky was almost pitch black now, a thick blanket filled with tiny stars that glinted brightly against the navy backdrop. The woods, still filled with the unsettling presence of flashlights, seemed eerier in the rearview, the few police cars that remained at the cottage shining from the glow of the kitchen light emanating from the window. Kate tugged at the threads of Colton’s sweatshirt, pulling the fabric over her mouth as she buried herself into the passenger seat. The radio announcer's voice drifted through the otherwise silent interior, talking about a new song being released by a popular female artist. Kate tried to focus on what he was saying, to push away the intrusive thoughts that were swirling through her mind, but his words turned into a mish-mash of nonsense, garbled sounds that made no sense to her. From her peripheral, she caught Colton m’s hand resting gently aga
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & S I X T E E N
“Colton!”Her own voice rang in her ears, the sharp whistle of a gunshot pulsing deep in the chambers of her mind as all other noises diffused, dulling down to an almost non-existent whine. Colton’s body crumpled to the floor, the rifle discharging as it hit the scuffed floorboards; another loud pop burrowing into her eardrums. Attempting to stand, she clutched her stomach, huffing as she brought herself to her feet, watching in horror as a small team of officers, dressed in dark S.W.A.T vests, approached, their movements slow and controlled, methodically assessing the scene before them.“Kate!”Sandy’s voice cut through the mind-numbing noise, the warmth of her hand resting on Kate’s shoulder, preventing her from moving forward. Tearing away from her grasp, Kate stumbled forward, tripping over Preston’s extended leg and careening to the floor. She stuck out her hands, her wrists taking the brunt of the impact as s
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F I F T E E N
Tucking her knees into her chest - as far as her pregnant stomach would allow - Kate covered her ears, consciously inhaling and exhaling through pursed lips in an attempt to steady her erratic heart. Somewhere in the lounge room, she heard Colton shuffling about, the harsh rake of the curtain rings sliding along the thick wooden rods, shading them from the view of the outside. He continued grumbling over the phone, the string of expletives showing no signs of easing as his heavy footsteps clunked past her, growing muffled in the weathered carpet as he retreated into the bedroom. Cabinet doors banged open, the clang and clatter of objects dispersing as he rifled through them before forcefully slamming them shut with an irritated grunt. The anxiety coursing through her triggered the baby, its tiny limbs poking and prodding her stomach as she strove to calm herself down.“You better have someone here soon, Sandy,” Colton spat in the background, the sound of ano
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F O U R T E E N
Stepping out onto the expansive back deck, Kate huddled into one of the wicker chairs, stretching out her legs to allow the tiny glimmer of sunlight to spatter across her sweats. Keeping the knitted blanket wrapped loosely around her shoulders, she clasped the hot cup between her palms, inhaling the sweet nuttiness of her almond cappuccino, lovingly brought back by Colton from his morning stroll into town. The fresh air, thick with the scent of pine needles and earthy rain, consumed her, allowing her to breathe deeply for the first time in weeks, if not months. Casting a gaze out at the dense woodlands before her, she smiled. Even though she’d denied him multiple times, Colton’s insistence on bringing her out to Rhys’ reclusive cabin had been the best idea he’d had in a long time. They’d been there only two days and already she was feeling like a whole new person. Her gaze flittered to the back door as it swung open, Colton’s broad shoulders unclothed, his shirt being used t
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T H I R T E E N
Three months laterPuffing out the influx of air she’d sucked in, Kate smoothed her white blouse over her stomach nervously, the silky material oddly comforting beneath her palm. The musky scent of the courthouse irritated her nostrils, old wood and leather mingled with thick clouds of cologne, emanating from the men dressed in stiff suits as they walked past her, their shoes click-clacking against the linoleum floor. Leaning back, she rested her back against the pastel yellow concrete wall, a chill radiating through her spine, as she tugged her phone from her purse. She smiled at the presence of Colton’s name on the screen and the black love heart nestled beside it.Good luck, baby. I’ll be there as soon as I can. This fucking dick is taking his sweet ass time.The memory of his crestfallen face flashed through her mind, the way his fingers had curled around the neck of his beer bottle as he jotted down the time and date for
Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T W E L V E
“How the hell do you have boxes – plural – of stuff? Paloma left with two trash bags,” Colton huffed, sliding the final box from their car across the bedroom floor, watching with a wince as it skidded into Kate’s leg. “Sorry.”“Ow.” She dropped the shirt she was folding, rubbing her leg before frowning up at him. “She forgot a lot of things, and it was easier to pre-fold my clothes and put them into boxes, rather than chuck them into trash bags again.”Knowing it was best not to argue while her sweet features housed a scowl, Colton sunk onto the bed. “D’ya want help?”After spending the first twenty minutes tidying the chaos that was Colton’s clothes, his shirts and shorts scrunched and stuffed into the spaces her absence had left, the remainder of her task was relatively simple. “I’ve just got the rest of this box and the one you just brought in left,&
