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Tara’s lips tingled and her heart raced in a chaotic rhythm as she pulled back slightly, just enough to see Amelia’s face. The glow of the fire painted Amelia’s features in soft, golden light, her large, dark eyes reflecting the flames.

Amelia’s hand was still on her chest, her touch so light and tentative it was almost unbearable. Tara’s body was urging her to do something they’d never come back from if they already hadn’t crossed that line.

What am I doing? The thought cut through Tara like a shard of glass. This was reckless—selfish, actually. Every kiss felt like a deeper plunge into something that could only end in disaster. Because whatever connection they’d found in this moment couldn’t last.

Tara cared about Amelia too much to keep touching her this way. She would only hurt them both. She knew she already had in so many ways. She couldn’t add another.

‘Tara?’ Amelia’s voice was quiet, uncertain.

Tara closed her eyes for a moment, swallowing the lump rising in her throat. ‘Amelia, I need to stop this. Before I take it too far. And if I kiss you again, I won’t have the strength to stop.’

‘Why do we have to stop?’ Amelia’s voice trembled at the edges.

Tara shook her head, pulling back even as every part of her screamed to stay. ‘Because I’m not staying, Amelia. And you’re not leaving.’

Amelia’s brows knitted, her lips parting as though she wanted to argue, but Tara pressed on before she could. ‘I’ll only hurt you. Or you’ll hurt me.’

Amelia’s hand drifted up to cup Tara’s face, her touch impossibly warm against skin that suddenly felt cold. ‘Maybe we don’t have to,’ she said softly, her gaze searching Tara’s. ‘Maybe we could…’ Amelia stopped there, unable to vocalise what it was she wanted.

‘You said that you wished you’d never met me. And you're right to feel that way. All I’ve done is bring chaos to your life. Because I’m… a shit.’

‘You’re not that,’ Amelia said.

‘You said as much.’

‘There’s more to you than what you’ve done wrong.’

‘You barely know me,’ Tara said.

‘I know you enough to know that you’re scared,’ Amelia said, her voice quiet but firm.

The words hit her harder than they should have. ‘Of course I’m scared,’ she said, her voice cracking.

Amelia’s eyes widened, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she leaned in closer, her forehead brushing against Tara’s. ‘What if we could be together? What if—’

‘We can’t,’ Tara interrupted, her voice sharp and trembling at the same time. She pulled back just enough to meet Amelia’s gaze, her eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep my distance. I’ve clearly lost my mind, letting myself kiss you like this.’

Amelia hesitated. ‘Kissing me is losing your mind?’

‘Kissing you is the loveliest…’ Tara stopped. She reached up, covering Amelia’s hand with her own, holding it in place for one agonising moment. ‘But this is doomed. Right?’

Amelia sighed. It was an answer.

‘I’m sorry,’ Tara said. The word was losing its meaning.

‘What for this time?’ Amelia asked with a wry yet sad smile.

‘For all this. For coming here. For screwing everything up. For…’ Tara left it there, finally out of words.

Amelia’s fingers curled against Tara’s cheek. ‘I wish I really was sorry I met you. But that was a lie.’ She dropped her hand and stood, rushing from the room.

Tara stayed in the dim light of the living room, the silence heavy around her. She couldn’t bring herself to move, not yet. Her fingers pressed against her lips, still warm from where Amelia’s had been.

She replayed the moment over and over, each word, each touch, trying to commit it to memory. It wasn’t enough. It occurred to her that if she were to walk into Amelia’s bedroom right this second, she would almost certainly be welcomed. Because Amelia wanted Tara as much as Tara wanted Amelia.

But Tara was done being selfish.

There had to be something she could do, something to make up for what she’d broken. She might not be able to fix everything between her and Amelia. That was complicated beyond belief. But she could do something for her. She could keep her promise.

Taking a deep breath, Tara went to her bag and pulled out an A4 pad. It was time to go to work.