the table. It hurt even to say his name. She felt like damaged goods.
“I hate you!”
Trying to look at things from a logical point of view, Kate fought with her inner voice. There was no physical proof at all that Jake was in Vernazza, only some annoying sixth sense and dozens of hormones running on overdrive.
What if Kate was totally delusional and way out of line? Jake was probably holed up in some hotel on a tropical island with some scatter-brained bimbo feeding him grapes and running her fingers through his soft hair. That would be right up his alley. Maybe she was looking for someone to blame so that she wouldn’t have to face the very real fact that she was suffering some sort of breakdown. Yet in her heart of hearts it was astoundingly clear that the awakening of her dormant soul was being brought to life by the only person on earth who truly knew her and who truly understood her. Someone who could make her feel sensations of euphoric pleasure just by being near. They didn’t have to physically see each other or touch to connect.
“I need to just calm down. Relax and rationalize. There’s a logical explanation for all this. Something has triggered all the sensations I’ve been feeling. Jake isn’t responsible for me losing my memory or my belongings. I need to re-trace my steps. Hopefully I’ve just experienced some sort of panic attack brought on by stress. I’m sure if I go back to Market Square I’ll remember.”
The words sounded hollow. Words to try and fill the consuming black hole in her memory. The night had become scary with incomplete hours and unconventional happenings.
“I need you, Carlos. Where are you?” She cried it out as she stood and walked out of the kitchen.
Lonely and frightened, Kate descended the stairs with nothing on her back except the clothes she had dreamt up. Hell, she didn’t even know if they were real at that point. Maybe they too were a figment of her unpredictable imagination.
Approaching the front door, she could have sworn she’d locked it on her way to the festival. It now sat slightly ajar.
“OMG! I really am losing it! I know I locked the door. That’s one thing I’m anal about. What the hell is going on?”
Knowing there were no keys to secure it with, she didn’t want to risk latching it, in case it somehow locked, leaving her without even a home to go to. In the community of Vernazza, it was unthinkable to leave doors unlocked during festival time. With so many strangers passing through, the chances of a robbery were high. Drunken revelers could stumble to the wrong building and discover it unlocked and it would be open season. It was a risk Kate would just have to take, though.
Chapter Nine
Watching Kate run with fear from the festival had cut Jake to the core. He’d visually acknowledged how much she despised him. It was unbearable to see that look in her eyes. Such contempt. All her pain had been caused by his need to keep her safe. In more ways than one he needed to make amends and heal some of her hurt but it would be no easy feat, not when she refused to be in the same vicinity. It was going to be harder than he thought, especially with her new lover at her side. How would he get her alone? Maybe Kate had run home to him and he was consoling her right now. It sickened him.
After aborting his decision to pray in church, he’d left the festival in order to curb his erotic thoughts about Kate. He’d hiked the steep incline to the top of town to a place that housed special memories. Now, as he sat on the stone bench with the sun spectacularly setting under the lonely olive tree that still had the initials JA 4 KF 4 EVA inscribed into the bark, he let his emotions roll forth. This was their place. A quiet, tucked away corner of solitude and beauty that held the most intimate secrets, desires, hopes, and dreams of the two lovers who vowed devotion to each other even in death.
He kicked
“I hate you!”
Trying to look at things from a logical point of view, Kate fought with her inner voice. There was no physical proof at all that Jake was in Vernazza, only some annoying sixth sense and dozens of hormones running on overdrive.
What if Kate was totally delusional and way out of line? Jake was probably holed up in some hotel on a tropical island with some scatter-brained bimbo feeding him grapes and running her fingers through his soft hair. That would be right up his alley. Maybe she was looking for someone to blame so that she wouldn’t have to face the very real fact that she was suffering some sort of breakdown. Yet in her heart of hearts it was astoundingly clear that the awakening of her dormant soul was being brought to life by the only person on earth who truly knew her and who truly understood her. Someone who could make her feel sensations of euphoric pleasure just by being near. They didn’t have to physically see each other or touch to connect.
“I need to just calm down. Relax and rationalize. There’s a logical explanation for all this. Something has triggered all the sensations I’ve been feeling. Jake isn’t responsible for me losing my memory or my belongings. I need to re-trace my steps. Hopefully I’ve just experienced some sort of panic attack brought on by stress. I’m sure if I go back to Market Square I’ll remember.”
The words sounded hollow. Words to try and fill the consuming black hole in her memory. The night had become scary with incomplete hours and unconventional happenings.
“I need you, Carlos. Where are you?” She cried it out as she stood and walked out of the kitchen.
Lonely and frightened, Kate descended the stairs with nothing on her back except the clothes she had dreamt up. Hell, she didn’t even know if they were real at that point. Maybe they too were a figment of her unpredictable imagination.
Approaching the front door, she could have sworn she’d locked it on her way to the festival. It now sat slightly ajar.
“OMG! I really am losing it! I know I locked the door. That’s one thing I’m anal about. What the hell is going on?”
Knowing there were no keys to secure it with, she didn’t want to risk latching it, in case it somehow locked, leaving her without even a home to go to. In the community of Vernazza, it was unthinkable to leave doors unlocked during festival time. With so many strangers passing through, the chances of a robbery were high. Drunken revelers could stumble to the wrong building and discover it unlocked and it would be open season. It was a risk Kate would just have to take, though.
Chapter Nine
Watching Kate run with fear from the festival had cut Jake to the core. He’d visually acknowledged how much she despised him. It was unbearable to see that look in her eyes. Such contempt. All her pain had been caused by his need to keep her safe. In more ways than one he needed to make amends and heal some of her hurt but it would be no easy feat, not when she refused to be in the same vicinity. It was going to be harder than he thought, especially with her new lover at her side. How would he get her alone? Maybe Kate had run home to him and he was consoling her right now. It sickened him.
After aborting his decision to pray in church, he’d left the festival in order to curb his erotic thoughts about Kate. He’d hiked the steep incline to the top of town to a place that housed special memories. Now, as he sat on the stone bench with the sun spectacularly setting under the lonely olive tree that still had the initials JA 4 KF 4 EVA inscribed into the bark, he let his emotions roll forth. This was their place. A quiet, tucked away corner of solitude and beauty that held the most intimate secrets, desires, hopes, and dreams of the two lovers who vowed devotion to each other even in death.
He kicked
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