Chapter 6
1225 Words
Ryan returned to his apartment in the early morning hours, the sun just beginning to rise.
His head felt heavy, and his body ached from the intensity of the emotions that had surged through him last night.
As he entered his apartment, he froze.
Kate was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, her arms folded tightly against her chest, glaring at him.
“How did you get in?” Ryan asked, his voice strained, still reeling from the night he had spent with Serena.
Kate’s gaze flickered with annoyance as she stood up, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.
“Your mother gave me the spare key. I’ve been waiting for you. Where the hell have you been, Ryan? You were supposed to be at my place last night!” She leaned forward, her tone demanding.
Ryan closed the door behind him and let out a long sigh.
He didn’t want to deal with this right now. He just wanted to go to bed.
“I was at the office. You know how it is. Long night. Lots of work.”
Kate’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t immediately respond.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head, studying him.
“Really? The office?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You expect me to believe that?”
Ryan winced inwardly but kept his expression neutral.
He didn’t want to tell her the truth, not yet.
He wasn’t ready to deal with Kate’s jealousy and anger, especially when it came to Serena.
“Of course, Kate. I told you, I was working late,” Ryan insisted, trying to sound convincing.
Kate raised an eyebrow.
“Then why didn’t you answer your phone? I called you six times.” She stepped closer to him, her heels making a soft click on the floor.
“I’ve been sitting here all night, waiting for you to come back, and you didn’t even bother to call.”
Ryan felt the guilt creep up on him, but he pushed it away.
He couldn’t let her know he was lying.
“I didn’t hear my phone,” he lied smoothly. “I must have left it on silent.”
Kate’s lips curled into a tight smile. She was furious, but she was also a master at hiding it behind a mask of sweetness.
“You’re lying, Ryan. You know I don’t believe you. I was worried sick about you.”
Ryan’s chest tightened as he avoided her gaze.
He knew she wouldn’t let this go, but he didn’t want to get into it.
“Kate, please. I’m tired. I’m just getting in. Can we talk about this later?”
Kate’s smile faltered as her eyes blazed with irritation. “Later? You expect me to just forget about this?” Her voice rose.
“You’re acting like I’m the one being unreasonable here. You’re the one who disappeared for the night without so much as a text! And now you want me to just pretend everything’s fine?”
Ryan ran a hand through his hair, the tension building in his neck. “Kate, it’s not like that. I was working. I’ve told you a hundred times.”
Kate took a step closer to him, her breath now warm against his skin.
“You know,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against his chest, “I’m starting to think maybe you’re hiding something from me.” Her eyes locked onto his, a flicker of suspicion in her gaze.
Ryan stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
She stepped even closer, until they were almost touching.
“Maybe there’s someone else,” she purred, her voice lowering, trying to mask her frustration with an air of seduction.
“Maybe you’ve been with another woman.”
Ryan’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly recovered. He shook his head, a forced chuckle escaping his lips.
“You’re overthinking things, Kate. I’m just tired, okay? I told you I was at the office. Nothing more to it.”
Kate wasn’t buying it. She could feel the distance between them for a while now, and the anger was building inside her.
“I don’t believe you,” she whispered, stepping closer, her body almost touching him now. “I think you’re lying to me.”
“Kate, please,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. “I’m really not in the mood for this.”
But Kate wasn’t finished.
She reached up and gently cupped his face in her hands, her touch soft but firm.
“Maybe you just need some rest,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“You’ve been working so hard, after all.” Her lips hovered near his, and she leaned in, her breath warm against his lips.
Ryan’s mind raced.
He could feel the weight of her touch, the pull of desire.
But something inside him resisted.
He stepped back, breaking the connection between them. “I’m really tired, Kate,” he said, his voice strained. “I don’t think I’m in the mood for…”
Kate’s expression darkened, the mask of sweetness slipping.
“Oh, so now you’re too tired for me?” she spat, her voice laced with venom. “You’ve been at the office all night, and now you’re too tired for me?”
Ryan looked at her, his jaw tightening. He didn’t want to fight with her, but he also didn’t want to give in. “Kate, you’re not being reasonable.”
She laughed bitterly, her eyes narrowing.
“Reasonable? I’m not being reasonable? You’ve been lying to me, Ryan, and now you don’t even have the decency to be honest with me!” She crossed her arms again, her stance defensive.
“I’m done with this.”
Ryan took a deep breath, feeling the anger bubble inside him. “I told you the truth, Kate. Why can’t you just trust me?”
“I don’t trust you,” she hissed. “I don’t trust you when you come up with one excuse after another. And I especially don’t trust you when you’re keeping secrets from me.”
“Kate, I’m not keeping secrets. I’m not seeing anyone else. I swear to you.”
Kate’s eyes narrowed as she studied him, looking for any sign of dishonesty.
“Then why didn’t you come home last night? Why didn’t you call me? Why was I left here, alone, while you…?”
“I was at the office, Kate!” Ryan snapped, finally losing his cool. “That’s the truth. I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Kate’s expression turned to one of cold fury.
“Fine,” she spat, “I’ll believe you. But don’t think I’m just going to forget about this. You can’t keep lying to me.”
Ryan stood there, speechless, as Kate turned and walked toward the door.
But just before she left, she turned around, her face softening slightly.
“You know,” she said, “if you really want to make it up to me, maybe you should show me how sorry you are.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed.
“How?” he asked, his voice wary with tiredness.
Kate smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye. “I’ll figure out whatever you’re hiding. Trust me!” With this, she stormed out.
- Writer
