Share
S I X T Y - F I V E
Sweet snores slipped from Kate’s petite body, swathed in the sheets of the expansive queen-sized bed. She looked so damn peaceful; hair still damp from her shower, her mouth ajar against the starchy pillow. Colton reclined on the uncomfortable armchair, finishing the last of his beer and watching the football game. He had needed something to take the edge off, the panic that cascaded through him still fresh and raw. He wanted to be calm and assured for Kate’s sake. Glassy eyes were constantly staring up at him when she was awake, ensuring he was there, that it was really him. Her fear crushed him.
Studying the gentle rise and fall of her chest, Colton rubbed his face, dumping the empty bottle on the nightstand. He needed a shower. He should’ve just had one with her, but he didn’t trust himself to give her the space she needed. Instead, he had sat on the toilet, talking nonsense to comfort her that he was there.
His knees creaked as he rose, his body still stiff and sore
Related chapters
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - S I X
Sitting at the small dining table, shoved tightly in the corner of the hotel room, Kate sighed. She flicked her finger across the screen, vetoing yet another apartment. Colton said goodbye to Heath, thanking him for the groceries he had brought them, before closing the door. He moved behind her, massaging her tense shoulders and kissing her cheek, “Can’t find anything?”“Nothing I really like.”Sinking into the chair opposite her, he scrolled through his phone, “What about one from Rhys’ building? The rent would be cheaper for us and it’s big enough for both of us and eventually, a baby.”As Colton pushed the phone in her direction, Kate scanned through the range of photos. The kitchen and bathroom were slightly dated but far more modern than her previous apartment, with a spacious wood-floored lounge and dining room, a bathroom that wasn’t attached to her bedroom, and two airy bedrooms, both with built-in wardrobes. Meeting his hopeful gaze, Kate murmured, “Rhys d
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - S E V E N
Cardboard boxes littered the empty rooms of Colton and Kate’s new apartment. A sofa and low-line cabinet were the only pieces of furniture in the lounge room, everything else still unbuilt, packed in their boxes, scattered around their apartment. It had started as shopping for a new bed; Kate hadn’t felt comfortable sleeping in her old one after Preston and there was no chance she wanted Colton’s bachelor bed in their new apartment. But it had escalated and soon, they had bought a new dining table and chairs, nightstands, coffee table, and a desk. Kate had felt guilty as the cashier rung up the purchases, but she couldn’t deny the sense of renewal that the furniture brought her.The lift in the apartment complex had been a blessing for Colton and Heath, as they lugged box after box from the car to their third-floor apartment. Heath sauntered in, dropping a box of kitchen utensils by Paloma’s feet. She smiled at him, pecking him gently before beginning the process of cleaning a
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - E I G H T
“Who knew you could be such a cutie?” Kate giggled at the dramatic eye-roll that Colton gave her, shoving a piece of pizza into her unsuspecting mouth. She gagged, giving him a teasing glare before snatching up a piece for herself.A floral quilt was sprawled beneath them on the bare living room floor, tea-lights flickering from the low-line. He’d surprised her with her favorite bottle of wine and pizza, a reward for being on her own for longer than ten minutes. Unenthusiastically, he agreed to watch the new episodes of The Umbrella Academy. She took a long sip of wine, dreamy-eyed as she watched Diego dart across the screen. A cushion surprised her, smacking her in the face and sending wine dribbling down her chin.“Stop it,” Colton growled as Kate gave him a faux-serious glare. Laughter broke through it quickly when he narrowed his eyes in warning.“But he’s just so attract-”The hurdling cushion hit her cheek once more. Kate snorted with laughter as Colton
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - N I N E
“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
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
Latest chapter
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T W E N T Y
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & N I N E T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & E I G H T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & S E V E N T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & S I X T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F I F T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & F O U R T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T H I R T E E N
- Rude Awakenings O N E H U N D R E D & T W E L V E
