The Space Between Heartbeats

A Kiss to Remember

Chapter Five

A Kiss to Remember

FLASHBACK

I was getting ready for Molly McKenna's party, and the excitement was almost unbearable. Mols was one of my closest friends, and she and Em had been talking about this night for weeks. I was busy curling my hair, singing at the top of my lungs, and dancing around like I was the star of a music video. I think my family thought I had completely lost it. My phone rang, pulling me from my little concert. It was Em.

"I'm leaving in 10 minutes, Danni. I bet you look amazing. Rix is one lucky guy," she said, her voice full of excitement.

I rolled my eyes and grinned. "See you soon."

I finished my hair and touched up my makeup. This party was important—it was the first one where Rix and I would officially be a couple in front of everyone, and it was the party of the year. I wanted to look perfect. Just as I added the finishing touches, the door swung open, and in danced Em.

She had this magnetic energy about her, the kind that made everything around her feel more alive. I laughed as she twirled me around, spinning me in the middle of the room.

"How do I look?" I asked, turning to her after finishing up.

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "If Rix doesn't give you your first kiss tonight, then I will."

I blushed, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. "Umm... ok, ha-ha," I stammered.

My little brother burst into my room, his face lighting up when he saw me. "You're a princess!" he exclaimed, giving me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before running off.

Mum appeared in the doorway with her usual parental lecture. "Look after each other, don’t get into trouble, and message me when you get there."

We grabbed our bags, giggling as we ran to the car, our excitement bubbling over. The car ride to the party was filled with laughter and photos as we talked about the night ahead. Em had me in stitches by pretending to act out how she imagined Rix would react when he saw me dressed up. The butterflies in my stomach were intense, but at least I had Em to distract me from my nerves.

When we arrived at the party, my heart was racing. Parties weren’t exactly my comfort zone, and there were already a few people milling around. Em, sensing my anxiety, took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. We walked toward the backyard, where the music thumped and laughter echoed in the warm night air. As we got closer, I could feel the weight of every pair of eyes turning toward us. The whole crowd seemed to know we had arrived.

And then I saw him. Rix. Standing completely still, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at me. Em stifled a laugh.

"I didn’t predict that reaction," she whispered. "It’s even better than I imagined."

Rix snapped out of his daze and slowly walked toward me, his eyes wide in awe. "Danni, you look amazing. I'm so lucky to have such a beautiful girlfriend," he said, his voice filled with admiration. He kissed my forehead, and then, with a protective arm around my waist, led me into the party.

The night unfolded in a haze of laughter, dancing, and catching up with friends. But it was the end of the night that I would remember forever.

After we said our goodbyes to Mols and thanked her for hosting, Rix walked us to the car. But then he stopped me, pulling me aside. Em, knowing exactly what was happening, kept walking toward the car.

Rix leaned in, his voice soft as he told me how great the night had been, how amazing I looked, and that he’d text me to make sure I got home safely. And then, as if everything slowed down, he kissed me. The most perfect, gentle kiss that took my breath away. I felt like I was floating, as though the earth had shifted beneath me.

It took me a while to fully process what had just happened. Had I really just been kissed?

END OF FLASHBACK

It was just a kiss. But it changed everything. I didn’t know it then, but that night would mark the beginning — and, in some ways, the beginning of the end.

I absentmindedly touched my lips, lost in the memory of that night. The photo on my screen brought it all rushing back. That night, those feelings... Did he have more pictures like that? More memories of us?

Em watched me closely, her expression softening as she caught the wave of emotion I couldn’t hide. The memories were too strong.

“Is this why he posted that picture?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Em gave a small, understanding nod. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier, Danni, because I knew it would bring back memories.”

I forced a smile, trying to hold it together. “It’s okay, Em. I’ll be fine. I just need answers.”

A plan began to form in my mind. I wasn’t going to let this slide. We needed answers, and I realised that I’d have to face Rixon to get them.

The next morning felt eerily normal, like nothing had happened the day before. But my heart didn’t agree. It felt like a shadow was still hanging over everything—too many unanswered questions, too many what-ifs. I stretched and got out of bed, only to be greeted by Em's groaning, half-asleep mumbles. I headed to the bathroom, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair was a total mess.

I walked into my room, where Em burst into laughter.

“I wouldn’t laugh too hard, have you looked at yourself?” I teased her.

Her hair was just as wild as mine. As we tried to get ready for a lazy day, I checked my phone—though I hadn’t expected any messages. To my surprise, there was a text from Cole.

He must have sent it in the early hours of the morning while we were asleep. I opened the message and read:

“Danni, sorry about earlier. I think we need to talk. I’ll be free after 2 pm tomorrow. Meet me at the spot. Yes, Em can come too. We’ll need her.”

I showed Em the message. She glanced at the clock and said, “It’s 11 am, let’s get ready.”

After breakfast, ok, more like lunch, I informed Mum we were heading into town for a break from studying. She didn’t mind as long as we did some work later. Em shot me a look, knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to focus until I spoke to Cole.

“Where’s the spot Cole mentioned?” Em asked.

I sighed. “It’s under the bridge in town. Someone set up a bench and a makeshift table. If we need to talk privately, that’s where we go.”

We spent the next few hours pretending to study, though Em was still glued to Rix's social media. Nothing new had been posted, and everything seemed quiet. We kept glancing at the clock, and eventually, it was time to go.

“Do you have any idea what this is about?” Em asked as we grabbed our things.

“No clue,” I admitted. “But hopefully Cole will help explain that picture Rixon posted with him. Maybe he just wants to explain what happened. I just need to know what’s going on.”

Em nodded, but I could see the fire in her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve got questions too.”

“Be gentle with him, Em,” I warned.

“Oh, I will. But if we have to confront Rixon, don’t expect me to go easy on him.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I loved her so much.

When we arrived at the spot, we lay back on the bench, waiting. And then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a tall shadow block out the sunlight. My heart skipped a beat as I screamed.

A deep, familiar chuckle followed.

“Scared much?” Cole’s voice rumbled, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Bite me,” I shot back.

Em rolled her eyes too, but seemed amused. This was her first time seeing Cole and me interact as friends.

Cole took a seat beside us, and Em wasted no time. “So, what’s going on? We need answers. Now.”

Cole shifted uncomfortably on the bench, clearly struggling with what to say. I placed my hand over his and looked him in the eye. “It’s okay, Cole. You can tell me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Danni,” he said quietly. “And she will beat me if I do.”

I shot Em a look, a silent warning. “I promise she won’t hurt you, but we all deserve the truth. I need to know what’s going on.”

Em raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking at our hands still touching. Oh no, I could already tell where this was headed.

“We’ve seen the picture. We know you’ve seen him,” Em added, her voice sharp.

Cole sighed deeply. “You’re right. It’s time for the truth.”

I pulled my hand away from his and braced myself. This was it. Time for the answers I’d been waiting for.