Firstly I wanna shout out a massive thank you to you guys for your continued support and kind words.
And here's part 2 of my thankyou, a new update. The morning after….
It felt like a dream. That was until she opened her eyes to brace herself for what was in fact reality. One she didn't resort to immediately questioning because he looked so peaceful and content as he slept. It was good enough for her.
His right arm looped around her waist, keeping her body intimately resting against his own. Her head laying on the surface of his steadily breathing chest and Kate pleasantly sighed in regards to the familiarity. Embracing every minute of this moment before he woke, bringing what was one of the best nights of her life to an end.
"Was it?"
Was it truly over now that they had re-consummated what Kate knew without a shadow of a doubt was love. There was no other explanation in her mind but with that she also considered the obstacles capable of swaying him otherwise; Kathy.
She was the one person with the potential to ruin what Kate longed for, now more than ever.
Though was she willing to risk it at the likely odds of having her hopes, along with her heart, shattered once again?
They were parked outside Kate's house. Kathy's anger filled eyes trained on it after seeing proof of her suspicions, thanks to Jack's distinctive grey Subaru parked in the driveway.
"You don't have to do this sis." Jimmy assured.
"I'm not." Kathy answered, thoroughly confusing Jimmy as a result.
"What do you mean?"
"I have a plan. One that'll end this nonsense once and for all." Kathy simply revealed whilst turning to face her Brother who then took the incentive to accept that for the time being and drive away.
(The next morning)
He was gone.
No trace of an explanation, only the remnants of his scent still lingering on the sheets. However instead of being confused and heartbroken by his absence, Kate took it as a cue for the fight to officially begin.
She was done being the other woman.
He went straight to his office, unable to face Kathy or Kate for that matter. All he wanted to do instead was disappear from a world he'd inflicted confusion and betrayal upon, thanks to his mindless actions.
He didn't know how or whether to tell Kathy in the first place. Knowing her reaction would be nothing short of devastation and that was something he couldn't comprehend with. Not after reassuring her on countless occasions that his relationship with Kate was in the past.
"I've ruined that now", he reminded himself knowing there was no way to fix this without someone getting hurt.
Knowing the one place he would choose to escape to in a state of crisis, she wasted no time in driving to the Hospital. Having a valid excuse to do so being that she worked there as well but her true intent was still firm and focused.
Kathy was surprised to receive a call from him, yet sensed why he did.
She considered allowing her suspicions precedence over the phone but refrained with the belief that Jack would never do something like that to her. So she took him up on his lunch date offer.
Besides, accepting his invitation would also give her plan the official go ahead.
"Kate or Kathy?"
That was the question once again and as much as he liked to believe it wasn't an issue, his actions last night certainly spoke otherwise.
Whether it was out of comfort for her, or him for that matter, it wasn't valid enough to condone the fact that he'd cheated on Kathy as a result.
"How can I tell her?" he asked himself, still at a loss to come at this without defeating his intent to prove his faithfulness.
Knock, Knock.
Momentarily frowning at knowing that it couldn't be Kathy, he barely had the chance to gauge a reaction before a familiar face then poked their head through.
"Kate? What are you…" he started, breaking off when she waved a brown lunch bag in front of him. A gesture he least predicted let alone expected after practically leaving her high and dry.
"I know you're not a breakfast person but I was hoping you'd make an exception this time." Kate explained, hopeful in her tone and facially encouraging.
"Kate, I'm…" Jack tried, but Kate cut him off.
"I know. I know what you're going to say but I don't regret it." Kate admitted catching Jack's attention and also weighing heavier on his conscience for what he felt needed to be set straight for Kathy's sake.
"I do." was all Jack could say in return. Opting to leave it at that in an attempt to not break Kate's heart anymore than he could already see he had. The confusion failing to hide it and Jack felt like a bigger jackass as a result.
Still it's what needed to be done; "for Kathy."
"What happened last night shouldn't have…." He moved to explain, verbally stumbling when he allowed himself to look at her. In particular her pained reaction to his blatant rejection and he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and dry those tears away, but all that would achieve now was the exact opposite.
"I don't believe that." Kate argued, physically moving in to convince him further, but he stepped back and folded his arms. Unwilling to reciprocate, treating her as if she were a disease. However Kate failed to back down, taking his resistance as a way to show him the extent of her determination.
Placing her hands on the sides of his stubbled face, momentarily smiling when she saw him close his eyes in regards to her touch. With that hope filled confirmation set in sight, she stood on her tip toes and planted the most delicate of kisses upon his still lips. A simple touch at first, but she was encouraged to then deepen it when he seemingly failed to pull away.
He felt like he was swimming again. In her, in his feelings, consequentially urging him to give in and just at the moment of coming close to doing so, his office phone started ringing.
Kate of course did everything within the power she still had on him to try and make him ignore it, but he'd taken the initiative to answer it already.
"Hello." He answered. "Thanks Jane, tell her I'll be down in a few minutes." He finished looking to Kate who'd already assumed who the "her" was.
With that he got off the phone, becoming uncomfortable with the person across for the obvious reason and in the end he went with only thing he could muster the courage to do.
"I have to go, she's gonna be wondering where I am…."
"Don't" Kate chipped in pleading, "please don't walk away from us Jack."
The sheer desperation in her voice, not to mention her shimmering green eyes really cut through to Jack, but at the same time he couldn't allow himself to get sucked in.
Not when it reminded him of a loss he still felt fully responsible for, despite what the Doctors said. In his mind it was his lack of attention that killed Lily which ultimately led to Kate's emotional ruin.
He couldn't have the heart to put her through that again.
"Goodbye Kate."
So a little gloomy on the Jate horizon but worry not cause this is just the beginning. Surprises and turnarounds are on the way…..
Next Chapter: Kathy's plan and how will Kate feel about it?