The morning light streamed through the bedroom window, casting a soft glow over the bed where Mike lay. He blinked up at the ceiling, his mind hazy from the events of the previous night. His body still tensed at the memory of Karen’s teasing—how she had pushed just enough to leave him frustrated, on edge.
Beside him, Diana stirred. She let out a sleepy sigh, turning onto her side to face him. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she reached out, her fingers grazing his arm.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.
Mike hesitated but exhaled deeply. "Me too."
For the first time in a long while, their apologies felt genuine. No forced words, no underlying tension—just a shared exhaustion of constantly being at odds. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, and she smiled softly, almost tentatively.
"Let's try to have a good day," she whispered.
He nodded, pressing a light kiss to her forehead before pulling away. "I'll go make some coffee."
Diana stretched as he slipped out of bed, watching him disappear down the hall. For a fleeting moment, it felt like they were them again, before everything had started unraveling.
Mike made his way downstairs, running a hand through his hair. His body was still tense from last night, but at least things with Diana seemed stable for now. Maybe they could find their way back.
As he entered the kitchen, the smell of coffee filled the air, but it wasn’t Diana he found at the counter.
Karen stood there, her back to him, pouring coffee into a mug. Unlike last night’s teasing, she seemed quieter, more reserved—but that didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of his presence.
She turned her head slightly, acknowledging him without looking directly at him. "Morning."
Mike cleared his throat. "Morning."
She took a slow sip of her coffee before setting the mug down and finally facing him. "You seem… refreshed."
He frowned slightly at her tone. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Karen shrugged, leaning against the counter. "Nothing. Just an observation. You and Diana seemed... closer this morning."
Mike studied her, noting the way her jaw was set just a little too tight, the way her fingers tapped idly against the countertop. She was trying to play it cool, but he knew better.
"We talked," he said simply. "We needed it."
Karen let out a small, humorless laugh. "Of course. That’s great."
She grabbed her coffee and walked past him, but as she did, she let her hand graze his lower back ever so slightly—a touch so quick, so subtle, yet deliberate enough to make his body react.
He turned to her sharply. "Karen—"
She smirked over her shoulder. "Relax, Mike. I was just passing by."
Before he could respond, Diana’s footsteps echoed from the stairs, and Karen’s expression shifted instantly into something neutral, almost sweet.
"Good morning, Diana," Karen greeted smoothly.
Diana offered a small smile as she entered the kitchen, moving straight to Mike’s side. "Morning."
She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, her fingers resting against his arm. The small gesture shouldn’t have felt so significant, but with Karen standing just a few feet away, watching—it was.
Karen’s smile didn’t falter, but something flickered in her eyes.
"I’ll be in my room," she said, lifting her mug. "Enjoy your coffee."
As she walked away, Mike couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Karen wasn’t pleased about his reconciliation with Diana—not one bit.
And something told him she wasn’t going to let it slide.
Waiting for the first comment……
Please log in to leave a comment.