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2024-10-29 19:42:56“And what do you do when Kate is struggling mentally, Colton?” Charlie pondered, eyeing the stiff body opposite him over thick-rimmed glasses.
Colton picked at the fraying of his black jeans, twirling the denim between his fingers as he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the floor. The couch squeaked beneath Kate as she shifted uncomfortably and Colton forced himself to shrug. He felt like a petulant child at the principal’s office, bracing himself for the lecture and trying desperately to think of something he could say that would stop the conversation dead in its tracks. Nothing came to mind. He sighed, “I don’t know.”
“He takes a steamin-” Kate began before being halted by Charlie’s stubby hand.
Narrowing his eyes on the therapist, Colton felt a wave of irritation boil over him at the gall of the guy. Charlie turned back to him, and smiled, “You said you felt guilt during these… episodes. How do you manage the guilt within yourself?”
“Not well,” he admitted. Hi
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Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y
Florence perched on Colton’s knee, happily singing the theme song to Mickey Mouse’s Clubhouse in adorable baby babble. Chubby hands clapped together, big, twinkling eyes watching the characters dance across the screen. Every so often, she’d glance back to Colton, checking to see if he was amazed by the cartoon mouse as she was. Kate giggled as Colton raised his brows, nodding enthusiastically, much to Florence’s delight.Wiping down the kitchen counters, Kate poured herself a glass of wine, leaning on her forearms to take in the scene before her. When Paloma had begged Kate to mind Florence overnight, she originally said no. Taking care of a toddler for a few hours was hard enough in itself, let alone an entire night, but with Paloma vomiting and Dylan working the night shift, she couldn’t leave her friend without an option. As she watched the sight before her though, she scolded herself for being so nervous. Colton was a natural and although she knew it, it still took her by
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - O N E
B O O K T W OThe bedroom door creaked open, Kate’s gaze lifting as she flicked over another page of the newspaper. Tendrils of steam escaped her mug, fogging up her reading glasses. Stubble brushed against her cheek, her head tilting toward Colton’s sleepy frame.“I thought you were going to yoga this morning?” His bare feet scuffed on the floorboards into the kitchen where he sluggishly poured a coffee, resting his bare back against the countertop as he took a deep gulp.Scooping up the last of cereal, Kate nodded. “I did. Paloma needed to leave early, so she dropped me home. That was…” she paused, swiping open her phone. “Over an hour ago. Not like you to sleep in.”Colton shrugged. “That fuckwit next door was boning the loudest fucking woman I’ve ever heard. Every time I thought I could drift off, she’d start up again.”&ldq
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - T W O
Flipping open the plastic container Kate had packed for him, Colton laughed. Veggie sticks and hummus, sandwiches, and a slightly-nibbled muffin were tucked neatly in the confines, along with a note telling him how much she loved him. The tight squeeze in his chest served as a constant reminder of how fucking deeply he loved this woman.Tugging his phone from his pocket, he typed out a message; You’re the best thing in my life. I love the fucking shit out of you. The image of Kate reading it - tinted cheeks and nipped in lower lip - had him involuntarily smiling like a fucking fool.“Cute lunch. Looks like something mom would pack me in third grade.”Snapping from his haze, Colton’s eyes narrowed on the brunette standing in front of him. Carissa, Clara, Cameron… fuck if he could remember. Her confidence faltered at his evident disdain, but she recuperated quickly, adjusting her top to reveal an inappropriate amount of clea
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - T H R E E
Roused by the gentle clink of the mug on her night stand, the aroma of coffee permeating the air, Kate sleepily rolled over, smiling up at the bare torso that greeted her. Stretching up, she traced the outline of his defined abdominals before hooking her fingers into the waistband of his pants, tugging him closer. He jerked forward, straddling her svelte frame, laughing as she pulled him down, desperate to kiss him.His kiss was gentle, void of the ferocity she craved. “I have to go to work, babe.” He smirked at her grumble. “You’re still okay to meet me for lunch, yeah?”“Yeah. I finish with Charlie at 11:30, so I’ll head straight to the gym afterwards.”Planting a kiss against her warm forehead, Colton’s raspy voice came out in a whisper. “I’m really proud of you, Kate.”His lips hit her skin once more, her eyes closing to revel in the tender moment. “I couldn’t do it wi
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - F O U R
Bruce Springsteen blasted from the jukebox, rainbow lights flashing around its perimeter in tempo, as the clatter of pool balls mingled with the chattering of guests. Colton pushed through the crowd, muttering incoherently about the number of people gathering near the entrance, while clasping Kate’s hand; his thumb brushing sweet lines against her knuckles. Scanning each crowded booth, he grumbled, finally locating Paloma and Heath at the furthest one from the door. It was easy to miss them; their faces attached together in a passionate embrace. Colton rolled his eyes, striking Heath’s arm before sliding into the faded, red booth. Draping his arm across Kate’s exposed shoulders, absentmindedly toying with the lacy hem of her off-the-shoulder sleeve, he cleared his throat. “Have some dignity. You’re in a public place.”Wiping the smear of red lipstick from Heath’s mouth, Paloma shook her head in amusement. “Did you guys fuck in a
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - F I V E
Heath’s fist clenched against the metal table, knuckles protruding so fiercely his skin appeared translucent, while Paloma’s features sunk in disappointment. Kate had half a mind to march to the bar, scold Colton for his shitty behavior and drag his ass back to the table, but she knew that, for the moment, the best thing she could do was attempt to redeem the happiness surrounding the announcement. Pointing toward the glass of lemonade, Kate raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “So, you weren’t drinking vodka sodas earlier?”Lifting her gaze from the torn skin of her nails, Paloma blew out a breath in amusement. A smile glimmered on her face, Heath’s stern features relaxing just a fraction. “It was water,” she laughed. “But I’m glad to know that if you see me drinking clear liquid, your first assumption is vodka.”Shrugging indifferently, Kate smiled, rapping her fingers against the cool steel. “So, tell
Rude Awakenings S E V E N T Y - S I X
Dropping her bag on the table by the front door, Kate kicked off her shoes, watching them fly in different directions; one landing beside the sofa, the other by the television. Colton slipped in through the opening behind her, stumbling onto the sofa and flicking on the TV. Rolling her eyes, Kate locked the door, averting his reaching grasp as she moved toward the bathroom.“It’s only 9:30,” he whined. “You’re not going to bed, are you?”Shutting herself in the tiled confines, Kate took in a deep breath, enjoying the fleeting silence. Colton’s loud, aggravated groan reverberated from the lounge-room, the heavy clomp of black boots testing their wooden floors. Kate pitied their downstairs neighbor; the boots exacerbating his usual stomp. Hurriedly stripping, she turned on the faucet, thankful for the near-instantaneous expulsion of warm water as she jumped in.The door flung open, Colton’s broad physique taking up m
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Stubbing out the last of his cigarette, Colton glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the lighter sparking up once more. His client, Tony, gave a crooked smile, smoke escaping the side of his mouth before extending his half-empty packet. Colton shook his head. “I literally just put one out. So did you, for that matter.”“You sound like my wife,” Tony complained, weathered hands rubbing over his bald head.The smell of smoke hit Colton’s nostrils, his mind searching for a distraction to avoid having another. Toying with his own packet, his fingers pushed back the cardboard, straightening it out before tearing it again. “You know, when I give these things up, you won’t be coming out here for fifteen-minute breaks during your sessions anymore.”Tony snorted, a cloud of smoke drifting from his bulbous, broken nose. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”“Just you wait,” Colton chuckl
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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,&
