Page 31 of August Heat
“I have problems with people who don’t know how to stay away for five freakin’ minutes. Ever heard of personal space?”
“There’s asking for personal space, and there’s refusing to answer calls so soon after a first kiss. You know what kind of message that sends someone? Hm?”
Siobhan tilted her head. “Why are you so obsessed with me?”
“Obsessed? Please. Don’t flatter yourself. You make me sound like I can’t control myself. I’d beg to differ.” Krys scoffed. “I like to think we’re going out. Maybe you’re not my girlfriend, Chev, but I’m at least owed the courtesy of an explanation.”
Siobhan almost said something. Instead, she lowered her arms and looked away. Her countenance softened. Barely. “I haven’t been feeling well.” She looked back at Krys. “Sorry I haven’t been answering my phone outside of veterinary emergencies.”
“I had one earlier, actually. Remember Meg? She got sick, and when I tried calling you, I kept going to your voicemail.”
“My aunt said you called. I’m sorry I couldn’t help, but you did the right thing taking her to Dr. Global instead of me. There’s only so much I can do for small animals way out here. If you have a cat and you live in town, you should definitely take it to the clinic.”
Krys could hardly believe it. Siobhan was so nonchalant about it! Didn’t she understand what had almost happened?The kitten will be fine, Dr. Global said, but only because I found her in time. The poor thing was so dehydrated they’re keeping her at the clinic overnight, and now I have to figure out how to get the kittens inside the house.Because Lucas would love that. He could suck rocks, though. Krys wasn’t about to let any of those kittens die on her watch, especially because of her own stupidity.I knew the garage was too hot, but I thought I could make it habitable in time…She’d have to keep them in her room, huh? Well, at least she could keep it cool. This only compelled her to get those cats moved into the firehouse faster.
“You think this is only about the cats?” Krys shook her head. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I never dated your ex. I’m sorry that she cheated on you all over town, but that’s not my problem. Nor is it my responsibility, even if Ihadaccidentally dated her. You ask me? You’re scared of being in any relationship, let alone with me.”
Siobhan fired up some derision so quickly that Krys worried she might have to call the volunteers working at the firehouse that weekend. “What the hell do you know about me? It’s none of your business how I feel about one thing or another. You think Ineeda relationship to be happy? Maybe I don’t look like I’m living the life, but I was perfectly content before you came blazing through here and dragging up bad memories left and right.”
“Why be content when you can have some happiness, huh?”
Siobhan stepped back with a wrinkle of her nose. “Do you think you’re so cool because you get any other woman you want in town? Because that doesn’t impress me. Maybe I don’t want to date somebody who gets off so much on it.”
“I don’tget offon having an active dating life, thank you very much. In fact, I’ll have you know that I hadn’t been dating anyone almost the whole damn year before I asked you out.”
“Again, is that supposed to impress me?”
“You know what?” Krys smacked her hands against her legs. “This isn’t about me. Last I checked, I was askingyouwhatyourproblem is.”
“You wanna know my problem?You’remy problem!”
That was the first time Siobhan raised her voice to Krys, who had been expecting yet another muted response. “Okay, then.” She turned, but not to walk away. Not yet. Perhaps a woman merely needed to process that first. “Am I your problem because you hate everything you think I stand for? Or because I’m making you think about unpleasant things?”
Siobhan opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Nothing but a huge breath that sounded more tired than the bags beneath her eyes looked.
“Who said those things don’t go together?”
Krys gritted her teeth. “Can I come in, at least? Just tell me what’s on your mind. I can’t be expected to get to know you better if you’re always pushing me away.”
“Maybe you should take the hint! Because you know what? I don’t owe you anything. I shouldn’t have gone on those dates with you. I don’t know what I was thinking kissing you.”
“Why did you have to be thinking anything? Why can’t you let go and enjoy something for once?”
“What makes you think I don’t enjoy anything?”
“I know you enjoyed that kissing the other night.”
Sometimes, Krys was too simple for her own good. When she said something like that, she often got a chuckle or a sagely nod out of someone. Not from Siobhan, who looked at her with aghast disbelief. Two seconds later? She craned her head around and covered her eyes before a sob broke free.
Krys had two sturdy shoulders to cry on. A woman only had to choose which one she liked more. The left one? Perfectly suited for feeling the thumping of her heart as it did its best to console everyone within a few inch radius.
Siobhan probably didn’t want to come anywhere near Krys, let alone touch her. Yet she didn’t put up a fight as Krys passed through the screen door and wrapped her arms around one person in so much pain. Siobhan buried her face against that left shoulder and unleashed two more large sobs that soon wettened the T-shirt clinging to Krys’s torso.She feels so frail in my arms.She hadn’t the other night. Siobhan had felt perfectly strong for someone who had lived thirty years on Earth and had already seen her fair share of crap.
“You need to cry?” Krys softly said. “You go ahead and cry it out. No need to keep all that shit inside.”
Siobhan clung to Krys’s shoulders. Slowly, she lifted her head. Somehow, she wasn’t as puffy or red as Krys anticipated. Yet her bottom lip did shake, and before Krys knew it, someone hugged her with all the strength in one’s body.
“I’m sorry,” Siobhan said through deepening sobs. “I don’t know why I’m still so hung up on it. I guess… seeing you around so much lately reminds me of everything that happened between… everyone.”
