Stealing Hearts - Stealing #2 (Sample of Published Book)

Chapter 5 - Part 1

The silence was tinged with sadness.

"I'm fine, Karsyn. I went back to the therapist today."

"That's good to hear."

She nodded. "It was hard. Talking about what happened was difficult. It never gets any easier talking about Dylan...or what happened."

There was that saying 'time heals all wounds', but she was skeptical. It hurt just as much as the day it had happened. It didn't feel any easier.

He put his arm around her and gave her hug. "I know."

For a few moments they sat close as their hearts shared in the grief of losing a loved one.

She was the first to pull away. "I need you to be okay, Karsyn."

"I am," he assured her, but she wasn't convinced.

"I thought we agreed that you needed to concentrate on yourself."

"I was worried about you. Especially when Charlie told me you had stopped therapy."

She felt guilty for pulling him back when she knew the best thing was for them to have space so he could focus on himself.

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way," she murmured, unsure of how he was going to take her next statement. "I need you to take care of yourself. I can't try and fix myself if I keep worrying about sucking you back into my messed-up life."

"It's difficult to keep my distance when I think you're struggling."

"I need you to be selfish. Don't worry about me, I have enough people to keep me focused on what's important. I want you to concentrate on figuring out what you need. That's what I want more than anything."

"What if what I need is not the same as what you need?" he murmured.

She hadn't thought about that. She had always believed giving him space was the best way for him to move forward.

"What do you need, Karsyn?"

"I need to be a part of your life even if it's only as a friend. I respect that you're involved with Myles and figuring things out, but I can't go back to not having you in my life."

At times it was difficult to separate the boy she had loved with the man in front of her now. The memories of them clung to her, but now she knew the difference between how she felt about Myles and the remnants of feelings she felt for Karsyn.

"If that's what you need."

"It is."

"So, what have you been up to?" she asked, prepared to be the friend he wanted.

"Not much other than working."

"No girls?" Her heart still stuttered when she thought back to when the mention of another girl would have broken her heart.

He shook his head. "No one worth mentioning."

It was still weird to talk about things that would have crushed her before, but she was prepared to do whatever he needed. He had stepped up when she had needed him without hesitation, which had made up in some part for how he had treated her when Dylan had died.

Seeing the tiredness she hadn't noticed before in his eyes, she had a thought.

"Have you ever thought about talking to someone?" she mentioned. She had been very resistant to the idea of sharing her secrets and she still wasn't convinced it was helping, but maybe that was just her. Perhaps it would help Karsyn.

He frowned thoughtfully before he shook his head.

"Maybe, it's something to think about." And she left it at that.

Just then her phone started to ring. It was Hannah.

"Are you ready yet?"

She had momentarily forgotten about her promise to go out with her friend.

"No, I'm not letting you back out," Hannah insisted when she didn't immediately answer. "Come on. I need to get all dressed up, looking pretty and go out. And I don't want to go alone."

That was enough to push her into agreeing to get ready in time for Hannah to pick her up.

Karsyn stood when she ended the call, and she rose.

"You guys going anywhere special tonight?" He had obviously heard her side of the conversation.

"Not really," she mumbled as she rubbed the back of her neck. "She wants to go clubbing. I think she's on the hunt for a man."

"You don't look like you want to go." He knew her too well.

She shrugged. "I had a rough day, but I know once I go out I'll end up having fun. Besides, I don't want to stay home."

She needed to be distracted.

"Well...have fun," he said as he made his way to her front door.

"Take care of yourself, Karsyn," she murmured as she opened it for him.

"You too." He gave her one last look before he walked out.

She watched as he disappeared before she closed the door and leaned against it.

Now that she was alone, it was impossible not to think of Dylan and all she had relived that afternoon with the therapist. She took in a deep emotional breath before slowly exhaling.