Desire at Dawn by Fiona Zedde

Author:Fiona Zedde [Zedde, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781626391079
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Olivia was in the shower when Kylie climbed the balcony the next night. She heard the hypnotic sound from the street, water falling on flesh, on tile, and underneath, quiet sobs.

She froze between the whisper of night at her back and the sadness pouring from the apartment. Did it have something to do with what she and Olivia had done together the night before? Did Olivia regret making love with her? The thought made Kylie pause longer, made her stomach ache.

Their night of sexual discovery had ended at dawn when, chased from the park and their comfortable blanket by the shadowy bruise of morning, they had raced back to Olivia’s apartment. Kylie, afraid that her sexual craving would turn to bloodlust, kissed Olivia good morning then dashed off to the hotel where Violet was already asleep.

She had one more day until Silvija’s time clock for her stay in Atlanta ran out.

A night breeze rippled the curtains, stirring the deep orange fabric that concealed Olivia’s apartment from the street. Kylie stood clasped between the window and the curtains, listening to the water and the tears. Finally, she moved deeper into the apartment, deliberately making noise, bumping into the edge of the sofa before sitting in it. She didn’t have to wait long.

“You’re late.” Olivia came out smelling like coconut and mint soap. A thick orange robe nearly swallowed her body, and the collar of a gray T-shirt peeked from beneath the terrycloth. Olivia drew a towel carefully over her short hair, drying it.

“I didn’t know we had an appointment,” Kylie said. But they did.

She’d gotten distracted talking with Violet about what Silvija would do if Kylie didn’t come back home by the end of the seven-day grace period. Violet was worried for her.

Olivia sat beside her on the sofa and reached for the remote to turn on the stereo mounted on the wall like a piece of art. She turned it to National Public Radio and turned the volume low.

“You normally come just before dinner,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s already time for the late news.”

“Will you make me dinner then and pretend that I’m on time?”

Olivia’s mouth briefly held a smile. She shook her head. “No pretending tonight.”

She rubbed the towel through her hair again then brought the white cotton close to her face. “I’m already losing my hair,” she said, peering at the small curls scattered across the towel.

Kylie had noticed the rain of black follicles, more plentiful than usual, at the collar of her dress a couple of days before.

“It’s only hair. It will grow back.”

Olivia looked at her. “Why do people say such stupid and obvious things like that and ignore the larger meaning of what I’m trying to say? Even you.” Something like contempt flickered across her face.

Kylie felt it like a lash. “Your life won’t ever be the same again. Your cancer changed you in ways that you probably don’t even know yet. But you already know that.” She looked carefully at Olivia. “Do you

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