Second Chances

by Gray, Christle

  After she asked the bartender directions to the exit, Kristin slid from the barstool and walked briskly through a short hallway that led to a side exit onto a small parking lot. She stopped for a moment, and let the cool, fresh air encompass her like a blanket.

  Kristin stared at the stars and the inky black sky, lost in her thoughts.

  “You’re leaving?” Kristin still wasn’t used to the sound of his Scottish accent. His brogue made her brain turn to mush.

  She closed her eyes, shuddered and spun to face him. His dark eyes were filled with sorrow and concern.

  “I think it’s best if I go,” she managed to squeak out in a shaky voice.

  David walked toward her. “You’re upset.” He reached out to caress her cheek.

  Kristin took a deep breath and stepped away from his grasp. His touch was too much too handle right now, and she needed a clear head. “Please don’t. I’m confused enough as it is.”

  David dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. You know I had no idea Sophie was coming tonight.”

  Grief at her distress deepened the lines of his brow as he tried to comfort her with hollow words. Even so, after everything that had taken place the past few days, a small part of her wanted nothing more than for David to wrap his arms around her and tell her he loved her.

  Kristin tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “I know you were shocked to see her, probably almost as shocked as I was, but it doesn’t matter. This whole scenario and other things, just further illustrates why us trying to have or define any type of relationship right now is a bad idea.”

  David slowly shook his head back and forth. “Don’t bow out of this. We have a connection, and we owe it to ourselves to explore what it is.”

  Kristin rubbed her forehead. “David, I don’t know if I want to know what it is. Sophie has this hold on you that you are unwilling to break, and she acts like a psychotic ex-lover in her jealously over you.”

  She dropped her hand and locked eyes with him. “And I think she has something to do with the problems I’ve been having at the gallery.”

  His eyebrows pulled together in a look of confusion. “But what purpose could Sophie possibly have in causing problems for your business? How would she benefit from that?”

  The anger finally simmered to the surface and rolled around in Kristin’s stomach again. Now he didn’t believe her? “She all but admitted it to me in there, asked how business had been with a smirk. I think she is completely obsessed with you, and will not let you go without a huge battle.”

  David snorted in disbelief. “I’m not some grand prize to be won, and I really don’t see how she could have anything to do with your issues at Haven. She’s manipulative, but she’s so egocentric she puts all of her energy into her career. I’m useless to her in any other capacity than that.”

  Kristin balled her hands into fists. “Fine, don’t believe me, then.” Damn him. He wanted to believe the best about his crazy-fake-fiancé-whatever-the-hell-she-was, then so be it. Tears welled behind her eyes as she spoke, threatening to spill out at any moment. She always hated to cry tears of anger as well as sadness.

  David moved toward her tentatively. “Kristin.” His voice was tender.

  Her hands clenched an unclenched at her sides. The hot anger rolled up from her stomach into her chest in a blaze. “Why don’t you just go back inside and continue your charade with Sophie? I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you.” She spat the words at him.

  David took a small step backward, seemingly stunned by her sudden abrasiveness. Kristin could see in his eyes that her words had cut through him. Though he deserved it, the effect had been stronger than she’d intended.

  Kristin spoke again, her voice softer, but still firm. “I just need some time, David. And so do you. Because we can’t possibly deal with whatever this is until you decide what you’re going to do.”

  Kristin turned and walked to her car, the tears finally streaming down her cheeks, so she dared not look back. With every step, she secretly wished he would come after her and declare that he loved her so they could ride off into the sunset, though she realized how childish and unlikely that would really be.

  When she reached her car, she turned around to find David gone. No fairy tales here, no riding off into any sunset. What a complete fool she’d been. Kristin quickly unlocked the door to her car and clambered inside.

  Taking a deep but shaky breath, Kristin laid her head on the steering wheel. Her breathing was ragged as she fought to control the anger and the sadness that rushed to claim her. Sobs wracked Kristin’s body as she pounded her hands on the passenger seat.

  Fury turned her cheeks hot as the tears flowed from her eyes for a few nerve-wracking minutes.

  ~~~

  David turned back toward the theater and trudged along the short hallway once more, back into the bar. His heart was heavy with guilt. He had deserved Kristin lashing out at him. Her misery was caused totally by him.

  The light inside the bar strongly contrasted with the darkness from outside and blinded him for a moment. He stopped and waited for his vision to clear.

  Sophie slowly came into focus, chatting away across the room with her director, Reginald Carson. Her face brightened as she noticed David and beckoned him over. Good. It was past time he had that talk with her.

  As David approached, he noticed a wariness in her eyes, despite her outwardly jovial expression. “David, darling, there you are. I was just talking to our good friend, Reg, here. Seems he’ll be directing a few runs at the Royal Shakespeare Company next year. Isn’t that fabulous?” Her hand flitted to David’s arm.

  David flashed a brief smile at Reg. All these fake social niceties were taking a toll on him. “That is fabulous. Congratulations, Reg.”

  Reg’s smile spread across his face from ear to ear and then he took a sip of his martini. “Sophie was just telling me that after you two are married, you might be interested in working on a play together.”

  David tilted his head and turned his gaze on Sophie, who stared at him sheepishly from lowered eyes. “Was she, now?”

  Reg nodded. “I, of course, would be delighted to work with the both of you at the RSC. A production of Romeo and Juliet perhaps?” He winked and raised his glass.

  David couldn’t believe his ears. What was wrong with her? Did Sophie really think he would play along with this game forever? What’s next, a fake marriage? That’s it. It was time to put an end to this crazy charade.

  “If you’ll excuse us, Reg.” David grabbed Sophie’s arm and roughly pulled her with him to a vacant corner of the bar.

  “You’re hurting me,” Sophie spat at him in a low voice. She yanked her arm out of his grasp and rubbed it lightly.

  David’s anger had reached its boiling point. His head vibrated in time with his pulse. “What in the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” The ire in his voice carried some weight to it, even in the noisy bar. A few glances shot their way.

  Sophie widened her eyes at his outburst, then stepped forward and took his hand. “Don’t be angry, David.” Her low voice was difficult to hear amidst all of the chaos in the bar.

  He wrenched his hand away. “Angry? I’m furious, you banshee!” The Scotsman in him always reared up when he was upset.

  Sophie shot a few glances around the room and smiled nervously. “Don’t do this, David, not here, not now.”

  “When, then, Sophie? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Ever?” Full-blown rage encompassed David. His breath came raggedly from the fierce anger.

  “Keep your voice down,” Sophie whispered hotly, stepping close to him again. “There’s no need to have a public argument end up in the papers. That wouldn’t do either of us any good.”

  “And lying to everyone does?” He fought to keep his voice under control as he bent toward her ear.

  “What has gotten into you? You never blow up like this, and especially not in public.” Sophie stepped back from him and crossed her arms. “Does this have anything t
o do with that little tart, Kristin, you were with earlier?”

  David moved towards Sophie and grabbed her by the shoulders. “You leave her out of this.”

  Sophie appeared startled for a moment, but recovered quickly, as her features evened out in a mask of pure control. A smirk blossomed across her mouth. “Well, well. Now we see what makes this Scotsman fight. Tell me, do you really think she’ll want to be with the has-been you’ll become if you cross me?”

  David gritted his teeth. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Sophie gazed up at him, and her blond brow narrowed. “Try me. Now let me go.”

  David released her and backed away. Maybe Kristin had been right about Sophie being unhinged enough to cause problems with the gallery.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “Tell me, Sophie, do you have anything to do with issues that Kristin has been having at her gallery?”

  The actress straightened her blouse. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If your little distraction is having business problems, it sounds like she needs to be better at her job, instead of blaming others.”

  David shook his head back and forth in disbelief. “You are some piece of work.”

  Sophie glared at him, pointing her finger into his chest. “And you had better never put your hands on me like that again, especially in public.” She smoothed her blond hair with her hand. “One might think you’ve forgotten where you came from.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” David furrowed his brow in confusion.

  Sophie smiled and leaned in close. Her lips touched his ears. “Just that it seems you have forgotten your place. You were nothing before you and I got together. Just a bit-part actor with no opportunities waiting. I opened up a whole world for you through mine and my family’s resources. You’d be nothing without me.” Sophie kissed his cheek. “You ought not to forget that.” Her eyes glinted like steel.

  Those words propelled David back a step. So this is how Sophie truly saw their relationship? And to think that he’d once loved her. The anger that had taken such hold of him died down and changed to…what? Pity?

  “What’s happened to you, Sophie?” He changed his approach to a gentler one.

  Sophie’s mouth opened in surprise. Her eyes softened and she cleared her throat. “What do you mean?”

  “When did you become so cold, so unreachable? You didn’t used to be like this.” David took a deep breath as his pulse rate evened out.

  For a moment, it seemed as though Sophie actually considered answering him honestly. Her features twisted as unfathomable emotions flashed within her eyes, but then they clouded and turned their usual icy blue. “It’s you that’s changed, David. Not me.”

  That was partly true. He had changed. The ability to truly connect to someone, to want that person emotionally, as well as physically had done that. Because of Kristin, David had learned what it was to truly be in love. He had to go to her.

  “We. Are. Finished. Enjoy your flight back to Glasgow, Sophie.” David turned away from Sophie and veered toward the door. As far as he was concerned, their charade was over.

  Chapter Seven

  Kristin could barely see the road through her angry tears. With immense relief, she finally parked the car and trudged up the stairs to her small apartment.

  Kristin took off her clothes, letting them fall where they may, and ran herself a hot bubble bath. Surely a nice long soak would help relax her weary limbs and heart. Twisting her hair into a clip, she stepped into the warm water, letting it envelop her body. Every part of her ached from all of the recent sleepless nights. And the worries at Haven added to her stress daily.

  “Ahhh.” Slipping deeper into the water, she tried to clear her muddled mind, relaxation fully on her agenda right now. She attempted to concentrate on letting the warm water ease the tension from her body. It was no use. As usual, David’s dark eyes and sensual lips invaded her thoughts. Annoyed, Kristin pulled the stopper, climbed out of the tub and wrapped a fluffy towel snugly around her body. Was she ever going to have peace of mind again?

  Drying off quickly, she walked to the bedroom. She pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and a T-shirt. Nothing else was needed, since she was getting ready to sleep, though she doubted she’d be doing much of that tonight. The clothes she’d scattered earlier still cluttered the bedroom floor, so she snatched them up and tossed them into the hamper in her bedroom. Looking around, Kristin wondered what to do next.

  At two in the morning, it was too late to call Ingrid, though Kristin wasn’t sure what she’d say to her friend now, anyway. Maybe tomorrow, after she sorted out her feelings.

  Maybe some earl grey tea would relax her. She put the kettle on the stove to make a cup of tea. While waiting for the kettle to come to a boil, she walked over to the door of her studio. David had so casually asked about this door when he’d been here, making her cringe inside as she brushed his question away. Kristin doubted she had the energy to do any work tonight, yet here she stood.

  The knob twisted in her hand, the door opening inward. She flipped the light switch and bright light flooded all corners of the tiny room. Canvasses were stacked in multiple areas against the walls, evidence of her recent creative bursts. In the center of the room stood a large easel with a gray, tarp-covered canvas.

  This was what she’d been working on lately. She pulled the tarp gently and let it fall to the floor. Dark cocoa eyes stared back at her from the canvas, a look of intense melancholy on David’s chiseled face. Her index finger slowly traced the line of his jaw in a caress. The image captured the intensity in his eyes, the soft fullness of his lips, and the hard angle of his jaw.

  The painting’s monochromatic scheme of all shades and tints of a cool bluish gray intensified the somber mood of the piece. Kristin hadn’t wanted to call it finished yet. Her artist’s eye obsessed about every small detail. Even as she tried to work on other pieces, she still found herself coming back to this one.

  Some might consider it a masterpiece. Kristin considered it an obsession and an exercise in self-torture. As she stared at the portrait, pain of her loss twisted in her gut. Even in paint, David’s passionate eyes tore through her core. It had to be finished now, because it cut her like a knife each time she looked at it. Her shaking hands replaced the tarp, turned off the light and shut the door.

  The kettle whistled, and she made a cup of tea. Her hands cupped the steaming mug as she settled on the couch, letting the warmth travel from her hands, outward, to the rest of her body. One thing she’d learned early on while living in London—a good cup of tea could do wonders. The English were convinced it could cure all ills and make everything right with the world. As Kristin sipped her tea, she hoped they were right.

  The door buzzer startled her, and she spilled some of her tea. The warm liquid dripped over her fingers, more of an annoyance than anything else. At least she’d lowered the temperature with a dash of milk. Otherwise, her fingers would be burned and not merely sticky.

  Kristin’s gaze shifted to the clock. Who in the world could be at her door at two in the morning? Concerned that a friend needed her, she set her mug on the table, wiped her hands on the hem of her shirt and walked to the intercom.

  “Yes?”

  “Kristin, it’s me,” David’s voice rumbled and tickled along her skin. “I know it’s late, but—”

  “David, go home. You shouldn’t be here.” Kristin cut him off, her earlier relaxed mood gone.

  “Please, Kristin.” Through the static-laden intercom she heard the tremor in his voice as he pleaded. “Let me come up. I need to talk to you.”

  Kristin closed her eyes, and willed herself to find the power to resist his voice as it washed over her. She didn’t have the strength to face him now. Her body drained, tired from the sight of seeing him with Psycho Sophie earlier.

  “I’ll stand here all night if I have to. Please, I need to talk to you.”

  He wasn’t going to leave. She sighed in defeat. “Fine, but make
it quick.”

  David was at the door almost instantly and out of breath. He must have run up the stairs. He stepped inside slowly and she shut the door behind him.

  Kristin felt his eyes on her as she walked past him, further into the apartment. She turned to face him and crossed her arms in front of her, determined to talk only for a few minutes. “So, talk.” There was no reason to make this easy for him.

  David’s gaze softened as he looked at her, making her acutely aware of how red and puffy her eyes must look with no makeup to cover up her crying jag. Wonderful.

  He slowly reached out to her to graze his fingers against her cheek. “You’ve been crying.” Tenderness in his low voice seeped into her heart.

  Kristin closed her eyes and shook her head. “Why are you here, David? Haven’t we been through enough hell this evening?”

  He clasped her chin and her eyes flew open. “I had to make sure you were all right.”

  Kristin removed his hand from her chin. “Shouldn’t you still be playing nice for the press with your ‘fiancé?’” Her fingers indicated sarcastic quote marks in the air around the word.

  David’s hand fell limply to his side. “Sophie is more than likely on her way back to Glasgow. She only flew in for a few hours.”

  He stepped closer, and Kristin backed away. She didn’t want to be so close to him. The heat from him, his spicy scent, it was too much. It had already dissolved small pieces of the fight she had in her.

  “I can’t do this right now, David. I’m angry. I’m confused. And I’m so damn tired.” Her shoulders sagged.