Tangled Webs by Dinesh Deckker

Author:Dinesh Deckker [Deckker, Dinesh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798344364933
Amazon: B0DKVFH9QK
Goodreads: 220804783
Publisher: Dinsu Books
Published: 2024-10-22T22:00:00+00:00

Part 2: Grace’s Increasing Recklessness

* * *

The first time Grace appeared unannounced at Emma’s studio, it had been late, too late for any visitor. Emma had been in the middle of a tedious editing session, trying to lose herself in her work, when the sharp knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. At first, she had ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away. But the knocking persisted—louder, more frantic—and when Emma finally opened the door, there stood Grace, her eyes wild, her hair disheveled, and the smell of alcohol clinging to her.

"Grace, what the hell are you doing here?" Emma asked, her heart racing with a mix of fear and irritation.

Grace pushed past her, stumbling slightly as she moved into the studio. "I needed to see you," she muttered, her voice slurred. "I can’t... I can’t keep waiting. You keep pushing me away, and I can’t handle it."

Emma closed the door behind her, swallowing the rising panic in her chest. "You can’t just show up here like this," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "What if someone sees you? What if—"

"I don’t care!" Grace interrupted, her voice cracking with desperation. "I don’t care about any of that anymore, Emma. I need you. You’re the only thing that makes sense right now."

Emma’s chest tightened as she watched Grace, the once composed and polished woman now a chaotic mess of emotions. There was a rawness to her, something unhinged and dangerous that made Emma’s pulse quicken with both fear and an uncomfortable longing. She had always been drawn to Grace’s intensity, but this... this was something different. This was reckless, out of control, and Emma didn’t know how to handle it.

"Grace, you’re drunk," Emma said, trying to guide her toward the couch. "You need to go home. We can talk about this tomorrow."

But Grace shook her head, pulling away from Emma’s touch with a frantic energy. "No. No, I don’t want to talk tomorrow. I want to talk now. I want you to stop pretending like you don’t need me, like I don’t matter to you!"

Emma stepped back, her heart pounding as she watched Grace’s emotional unraveling. "That’s not what this is about," she said quietly. "I’m trying to protect both of us. If anyone finds out—"

Grace laughed bitterly, her eyes flashing with a wild desperation. "You’re not protecting anyone, Emma. You’re hiding. Hiding from me, hiding from yourself." She staggered toward Emma, her hands reaching out, grabbing her arms with surprising strength. "I love you," she whispered, her breath hot against Emma’s skin. "And you love me too. Don’t lie. Don’t pretend like this doesn’t matter."

Emma felt her resolve falter under Grace’s intensity. There was something about the way Grace looked at her, something in the raw need that pulled at Emma’s own vulnerability. She wanted to push Grace away, to end this before it spiraled any further out of control, but there was a part of her—an undeniable part—that was drawn to Grace’s madness.

"I do love you," Emma whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

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