The Storm between Us

Chapter 18

A whole day passed without Amber hearing from KJ.

And strangely enough, that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

She sat outside of work the next morning, staring at the parking lot but she wasn't thinking about work.

She was thinking about him.

KJ.

The way he'd looked at her after everything happened.

The way his voice had changed when he realized how frightened she'd become.

The gun.

The man.

The way Amber had immediately gone into survival mode, her mind dragging her back to memories she'd spent months trying to bury.

She closed her eyes.

Do I really want to do this?

That was the question she'd been asking herself since last night.

She liked KJ.

That much was becoming impossible to deny.

He was sweet to her. Gentle. Patient. He noticed little things. He remembered what she liked. He made her laugh when she didn't feel like laughing. He never pressured her when she wasn't ready.

But there was another side of him.

A side she'd barely begun to see.

And Amber wasn't sure she could handle it.

She'd moved to Georgia because she wanted peace.

She wanted a fresh start.

She wanted to wake up without being afraid.

She wanted to drive without checking her mirrors every few seconds.

She wanted to build a life where nobody threatened her, scared her, controlled her, or made her feel like she had to constantly protect herself.

And now she was getting close to a man whose life seemed to have danger woven into it.

Amber sighed and grabbed her purse.

"Just get through today," she whispered to herself.

She got up and walked into the building.

⸻

Work kept her busy for the first few hours.

She helped with the clients, checked her schedule, answered questions, and tried her best to focus.

But every time her phone vibrated, her eyes immediately went toward it.

Nothing.

Until around lunchtime.

Her phone buzzed.

DoorDash: Your order has arrived.

Amber frowned.

She hadn't ordered anything.

She walked toward the front entrance and found a DoorDash driver waiting with a bag.

"Amber?"

"Yeah."

"Here you go."

She took the bag, confused.

Then she saw the receipt.

Her eyes widened.

Pho.

Her favorite.

She immediately knew.

KJ.

She pulled her phone out and stared at his name for several seconds before finally typing.

Amber: Did you send me food?

His response came almost immediately.

KJ: Maybe.

She smiled despite herself.

Amber: KJ....

KJ: You gotta eat.

Amber: Thank you. You didn't have to do that.

KJ: I know.

Amber shook her head.

Amber: It's my favorite too. How did you even remember?

KJ: I listen when you talk.

That made her pause.

She stared at the message longer than she should have.

Amber: You're sweet.

The typing bubble appeared.

Disappeared.

Then appeared again.

KJ: I was wondering if you were gonna say that to me again.

Amber's smile faded slightly.

She knew where this conversation was going.

Amber: About yesterday?

KJ: Yeah.

She sat down at a table away from everyone.

Amber: I've been thinking about it all day.

KJ: Me too.

A few seconds passed.

KJ: I'm gonna drop my mom off this evening. I'll pick you up after if you want. We can talk.

Amber's stomach tightened.

She didn't know if she was ready.

But she knew avoiding the conversation wouldn't make anything better.

Amber: Okay.

KJ: I'll text you when I'm on the way.

⸻

When KJ's car pulled up, she watched him park.

He stepped out and walked toward her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

KJ looked at her.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"You good?"

Amber nodded.

"I'm okay."

He opened the passenger door.

She hesitated before getting in.

KJ noticed.

That little hesitation hurt him.

He didn't say anything, though.

He just waited.

Finally, Amber got inside.

The familiar blue glow filled the car once he started it.

Neither of them turned the music on.

For once, the silence wasn't comfortable.

KJ pulled away from her work and drove for several minutes before finally speaking.

"I owe you an explanation."

Amber looked over at him.

He kept his eyes on the road. He drove to a public library and parked under a tree.

"What happened yesterday..." He exhaled. "I understand why you were scared."

Amber stayed quiet.

"I should've told you more about me before you ever got that close to me."

"What do you mean?"

KJ glanced at her.

"I mean my life ain't as simple as it looks."

Amber looked down at her hands.

"I figured."

He nodded.

"My mom brought me here when I was young. Jamaica was all I knew. When she moved us here, she was trying to save me."

"From what?"

"The streets."

Amber looked at him again.

KJ's expression had changed.

"I grew up around people who didn't really have choices. Everybody knew somebody who sold something. Everybody knew somebody who carried something. Violence wasn't some crazy thing you only saw on TV. It was around us."

He paused.

"I was heading down that road too."

Amber listened carefully.

"My mom saw it before I did. She knew where I was headed."

"What did she do?"

"She got me out."

His voice softened.

"She worked her ass off. She didn't have much, but she made sure I had somewhere to sleep, food to eat, clothes on my back. She pushed me toward school. She stayed on me."

He smiled faintly.

"She used to tell me, 'You can either be somebody or you can spend your whole life running from the person you could've been.'"

Amber smiled slightly.

"She sounds like a strong woman."

"She is."

KJ's smile disappeared.

"And I ain't gonna sit here and lie to you and pretend I'm perfect now."

Amber's heart sank.

"What do you do?"

He took a breath.

"I work security."

"Security?"

"Yeah. I work security for a firearms company."

Amber's eyes widened slightly.

KJ noticed.

"That's my nine-to-five. Legit job. I go to work, do my shift, come home."

"And the other stuff?"

His jaw tightened.

"I still do things on the side I probably shouldn't."

Amber looked away.

"Like?"

KJ was quiet for a moment.

"Street racing. Selling."

Amber's stomach dropped.

"Drugs?"

He nodded.

"Yeah."

She swallowed.

"I know that's not what you wanted to hear."

"No."

"I know."

He pulled into a quiet parking lot and put the car in park.

Then he turned toward her.

"But I'm not telling you this because I want you to think it's cool. And I'm not telling you because I'm proud of everything I've done."

He looked down.

"I'm telling you because if I'm gonna be around you, you deserve the truth."

Amber didn't know what to say.

KJ continued.

"I've been around that life so long that sometimes I don't even realize how crazy it sounds to somebody who hasn't."

Amber's voice was soft.

"Yesterday scared me."

"I know."

"No, KJ. I don't think you understand."

He looked at her.

"I thought something was going to happen."

"I know."

"I saw that gun and I immediately thought..."

Her voice cracked.

KJ leaned back, giving her space.

"What?"

Amber shook her head.

"My ex."

The words seemed to change the entire atmosphere.

KJ didn't interrupt.

Amber stared through the windshield.

"My ex wasn't just a bad husband."

Her voice trembled.

"He was dangerous."

KJ's expression hardened, but he didn't say anything.

"He made me scared to leave. He threatened me. He messed with my car. He was abusive. He made me feel like I couldn't trust anybody."

She swallowed.

"So when I saw what happened yesterday, I wasn't just seeing you."

KJ listened.

"I was seeing him."

A long silence followed.

Amber wiped beneath her eye.

"I came here because I wanted a new beginning. And it's hard because even though I'm here, I'm still getting threats."

KJ's face changed.

"You're still getting threatened?"

Amber nodded.

"That's why I failed my driving test."

He frowned.

"What?"

"I got messages from people connected to him. His family. Things they said got into my head."

She shook her head.

"I was driving and I just... zoned out. I wasn't paying attention the way I should've. I made mistakes. I couldn't focus."

KJ looked down.

"You've been carrying all that by yourself?"

"I didn't know who to tell."

"You could've told me."

"I barely know you."

He nodded slowly.

"You're right."

Amber looked at him.

"And that's part of the problem."

"What?"

"I like you."

KJ froze.

Amber looked embarrassed.

"I really do. You're sweet to me. You're gentle with me. You make me feel comfortable. And I don't understand how someone can be all those things and still have this whole other life."

KJ looked at her.

"I don't understand it either sometimes."

She laughed softly.

"I've never really been good at relationships."

"You don't have to be."

"I want to take things slow."

"We can."

"I mean really slow."

KJ nodded.

"Really slow."

"I don't want to feel pressured."

"I won't pressure you."

"And I don't know if I can handle everything that comes with you."

He looked away.

"I understand."

Amber reached over and lightly touched his arm.

"I'm not saying I don't want to know you."

KJ looked at her hand.

"I'm just saying I'm scared."

His eyes met hers.

"And I don't want you to ever be scared of me."

Amber's heart tightened.

"I know."

KJ swallowed.

"I like you, Amber."

She looked at him.

"No."

He gave a small laugh.

"I really like you."

His voice became softer.

"I don't usually do this. I don't chase women. I don't sit around thinking about somebody all day. I don't send people their favorite food because I remembered what they said two weeks ago."

Amber smiled.

"But you?"

"You got me doing stupid shit."

She laughed.

KJ smiled.

"I think about you when you're not around. I look for you at work. I like hearing your voice. I like when you get shy and look away when I compliment you."

Amber's cheeks warmed.

"And yesterday..."

He paused.

"Yesterday scared me because I thought I might've ruined whatever we were building."

Amber's smile faded.

"I don't want to lose you either."

KJ looked at her.

"But I need you to understand something," she said. "I need safety. I need peace. I need time."

"You got it."

"And if something ever happens that makes me uncomfortable, I need to be able to tell you."

"You can."

"Even if you're mad?"

"Even if I'm mad."

She studied his face.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Amber finally smiled.

KJ reached over and gently squeezed her hand.

"I don't expect you to understand my whole life overnight."

"I don't."

"And I don't expect you to fix me."

"I'm not trying to."

"I know."

They sat there quietly.

Then Amber laughed.

"What?"

"You really sent me pho."

KJ grinned.

"You were hungry."

"You remembered my favorite food."

"I told you. I listen."

She shook her head.

"You're something else."

"And you still like me."

Amber rolled her eyes.

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Don't push it."

He laughed.

For the first time since yesterday, the tension finally began to disappear.

They weren't magically okay.

Amber still had questions.

She still had fears.

And KJ's life was still complicated.

But they had finally said the things they'd both been avoiding.

Eventually, KJ drove her home.

They stood outside her door for a moment.

"So..." he said.

"So?"

"We good?"

Amber looked at him.

"We're trying."

He smiled.

"I'll take that."

She smiled back.

"Goodnight, KJ."

"Goodnight, Amber."

She stepped inside.

A few minutes later, her phone rang.

KJ FaceTime.

Amber smiled and answered.

His face appeared on the screen.

"You couldn't stay away already?"

He laughed.

"I told you I like you."

She rolled her eyes.

"Goodnight."

"You said that already."

"Okay, then stop talking."

"No."

Amber laughed.

And for the first time since arriving in Georgia, the idea of a new beginning didn't feel quite so impossible.

Maybe she didn't have to know exactly where this relationship was going.

Maybe she just needed to take it one day at a time.

And for tonight, that was enough.