Page 64 of The Hotel Room

Because no matter how hard she tried to convince herself she could keep him at a distance—

Part of her still ached for him.

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The sound of the dishwasher’s low hum filled the kitchen, steady and mechanical, a contrast to the storm brewing in the room.

Kate stood at the sink, drying the last of the plates with slow, careful motions, trying to ignore the tension crackling behind her.

Noah sat at the table, arms crossed, his phone facedown beside his untouched dinner plate. His face was set in that familiar teenage scowl—one she’d been seeing far too often lately.

It hadn’t helped that James had been disappearing into the old shed every evening. Coming in late from work and heading straight outside, staying for hours. Sometimes, she’d hear the faint thud of tools, but mostly, it was silence.

And itbotheredher.

What was he even doing out there? Was he just avoiding her?

Kate tried to shake the thought off as she folded the damp dish towel, but the ache lingered.

The tension at home was unbearable lately, and it wasn’t just between her and James. Noah was shutting down too.

“Noah,” she said softly, still not turning from the sink. “Finish your food, please.”

His chair scraped back an inch. “I’m not hungry.”

Kate forced a breath, steady but tight.

“Then sit with us anyway. We’re a family. We eat together.”

Noah snorted under his breath. “Yeah? Sure feels like afamilylately.”

The sarcasm hit like a slap. Kate gripped the edge of the counter, staring hard at the sink as her heart twisted.

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t understand why I can’t just forgive his dad.

The truth was too damaging, too adult. And yet, the longer this strained silence stretched, the more Noah turned his frustration against her.

Kate inhaled slowly, turning to face him.

“I know things have been tense,” she said carefully. “But that’s not a reason to be disrespectful. I’m trying, Noah. We’re all trying.”

Noah’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists on the table.

“If you weretrying, you’d stop punishing Dad.”

The words pierced deep, sharp and unrelenting.

Kate’s stomach flipped, heat rising behind her eyes.

Punishing?

She pressed her lips together, struggling to keep her voice calm.

“This isn’t about punishing anyone—”

“Yes, it is!” Noah’s voice cracked, louder now. “He’s here every night! He’s been working out in that stupid shed forhours—he’s trying to make things better, and you’re just—” His voice broke. “You’re the one who won’t let things go.”

Kate blinked, her breath catching. Her hands trembled at her sides, but before she could respond, Noah was already pushing back from the table.

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