“You think this isfunny?”
Catherine stepped closer, reaching a tentative hand out.
“Oh, come on—”
“You left me!” Masika bellowed. She hadn’t meant for the words to come tumbling out, but she couldn’t restrain herself. Not anymore. Not when the dormant pain had fully ruptured, bringing with it the unforgiving sting of old wounds.
Catherine’s hand dropped to her side, her mouth opening and closing in surprise.
“Ah.” She awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other. “So that’s what this is really about.”
“You could have talked to me about it,” Masika whispered, ashamed of her own desperation. “Given me a chance to reason with you. Dammit, Catherine…you could have at leasttriedto take me with you.”
Catherine’s face fell as Masika’s words echoed between them. She stepped closer, close enough that an unwanted wisp of longing coiled around Masika’s stomach. She could imagine that in another life, in another version of their story, she’d reach out and brush her fingertips against Catherine and destroy the space between them.
But not in this one. In this version, Masika remained motionless, her expression cold and controlled.
“Come on, little dove.” Catherine looked up at her with pleading eyes. “What will it take for you to forgive me?”
An idea sparked in Masika’s mind. Something wildly out of character. It would be a risk, but given the circumstances…one she was willing to make.
“Why?” Masika inched closer. With that single step, the space between them was nearly nonexistent,beggingto be closed.Catherine must have sensed it, too. Her gaze darted between Masika’s eyes and lips. “Did you miss me?”
When Catherine spoke next, her voice was low and hoarse, a sound that Masika wanted to drink in.
“More than you know.”
“Is it difficult to see me again?” Masika reached her hand out, tentatively tucking a loose strand of hair behind Catherine’s ear. The second Masika’s fingertips brushed the delicate skin of Catherine’s neck, Catherine’s eyes fluttered, a deep sigh escaping her lips. “To be so close to me, yet…unable to have me?”
Catherine shut her eyes.
“It’s torture,” she whispered.
Masika let the moment linger, the anticipation building as Catherine leaned in closer, nearly melting in her palms. It was exactly what Masika wanted…what she had envisioned on so many lonely nights.
But then Masika stepped backward, snatching the moment away with a smug grin.
“Perfect,” she chirped, sauntering toward the door. “A few decades of agonizing torture, and we can call it even.” She glanced over her shoulder, delighted to see Catherine staring back at her, jaw slack. “See you around,Cat.”
On any other day, Masika might have felt a sting of remorse for her little performance. She might have even been tempted to follow through with it, unable to temper her desire to close the space between them. But she couldn’t dwell on any of that now…not when her plan had worked.
Because as Masika exited the room, victory swirling in her chest, Catherine was too stunned to notice the empty key ring dangling at her hip…and the key tucked within Masika’s palm.
4
WREN
Wren Loughty succumbed to the darkness and
fell
back
into
time…
The patter of rain. Tires against asphalt. Static as an old folk song drifted through the radio. The sweet scent of vanilla perfume and the remnants of liquor lingering on minty breath.
