Page 66 of The Off-limits Grump Next Door
I drove her home in silence, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me.
***
Back at my apartment, the memories hit harder than ever. I sank onto the couch, the emptiness suffocating me. I had to talk to Kendra. Tomorrow, I will hear her out.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kendra
I zipped open my luggage, tossing in a few more clothes just in case. Tina helped, her eyes filled with concern as she folded a sweater and placed it neatly inside.
"Are you sure you have to leave, Kendra?" she asked softly. "Can't you try talking things out with Antonio first?"
"You know better than anyone how hard I’ve tried," I replied, my voice strained. "He keeps shutting me out."
Tina sighed, smoothing out a wrinkle in the fabric. "I know. But leaving won’t fix anything. It’ll only make both your hearts colder."
I tucked a hair tie into my pocket, shaking my head. "I have to get out of here, Tina. Asheville is suffocating me. Everywhere I turn, I see him or hear his name... It’s too much."
She rested a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Maybe seeing Antonio one last time before you leave would help. You said he's back at his apartment now. Talking might give you both some peace."
My heart raced at the thought. I had seen him last night, just a fleeting glance as he walked into the building. I'd ducked behind a corner, my pulse pounding in my ears as he passed by, deep in thought. Part of me had wanted to call out, to explain everything.
But now that he was within reach, I couldn’t face him. The thought of looking into those piercing gray eyes again twisted my stomach into knots.
"I can’t, Tina. Not yet."
Tina’s expression softened with understanding. "Okay," she whispered, "but promise me you’ll reach out to him eventually. You both need to talk this through."
I nodded, though uncertainty weighed heavily on my heart. Could I ever face Antonio again?
As we finished packing, I glanced around my apartment, a wave of sadness washing over me. This had been my sanctuary, my little piece of peace.
But now, it felt haunted by memories of Antonio—by what we had shared and what was lost.
"I’ll request an extra two weeks off," I muttered, zipping up my bag. "I'm going to Alaska."
Tina's eyes widened. "Alaska? Wow, that’s quite an escape."
I forced a smile. "I need it. I need to get away from everything and everyone. Just me, nature, and some quiet."
"You deserve it," Tina said with a soft smile.
Just then, my phone rang. Tom's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey, sis!" His warm voice boomed through the phone, instantly comforting. "Still leaving at 10 a.m.?"
"Yeah," I said, holding the phone to my ear as I zipped my suitcase. "I just need to stop by the station to finalize my leave paperwork. Tina's driving me to the airport."
Tina leaned closer, grinning. "Hi, handsome Tom!" she called out.
Tom chuckled. "Hey, beautiful Tina!"
“Tina, my brother is married, and Lucinda doesn’t like sharing," I teased, rolling my eyes.
"Being married doesn’t make him less handsome," Tina crooned. "And Lucinda is very pretty."
"You’re very pretty too," Lucinda’s voice echoed through the phone, joining the conversation. "Hello, Tina."
