Page 59 of Resist

Never had I wanted two things that were impossible to have simultaneously: to stop and go. But I had to choose one.

“Stop,” I whispered.

His breath was hot and hard against my neck as he pushed back from the door, picked up my crutches, and handed them to me before entering my hotel room.

“Where are you going?”

“To sit and wait while you make phone calls. Then we can talk.”

“About what?”

“Us. You. Jason. Your ex.”

“Lucas!”

“I’m making a coffee, want one?”

I growled like a lion in labour.

“That was hot. Do it again.”

“Argh! You’re so …”

“Frustrating?”

“YES!”

Lucas switched the kettle on and disappeared behind the kitchen counter before reappearing, holding two mugs. “How many sugars?”

Standing there at the threshold to the room, balanced on my crutches, my hand covering my chin, I didn’t say anything.

He looked up. “One or two?”

I could’ve demanded he leave at that moment, and he would’ve, no doubt about it. I hadn’t known Lucas long, but I could tell he would leave in a heartbeat if it were what I really wanted. He pressured without true pressure because, somehow, he knew. He knew I didn’t want to be alone, and he knew I needed to talk … to him.

“Two,” I said, and limped to the door of the balcony. “And don’t be shy with the milk.”

Opening the sliding glass door, I stepped out into the sunshine, the breeze warm and humid. Waves lapped the shore below, and seagulls sang as they soared in circles above. I breathed in, the air aquatic but not overbearingly so. It was soothing and calmed me instantly — the beach was good for the soul.

“Here you go … sweet and milky.” Lucas handed me my mug of coffee. “Nice isn’t it?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t tasted it yet.”

He took a seat. “Not the coffee. The view … the beach.”

“Oh. Yeah, it is. I love the beach.” I took a sip of my coffee; it was perfect. “Actually, I just bought an apartment on the coast, south of Perth.”

“Perth? That’s—”

“Far away? Yes. That’s why I bought there. It’s the farthest place on the continent from Colin.”

“Colin?”

“My ex-husband.”

He nodded. “Are you moving there?”

“No, not entirely. Jason is at Uni, so I plan to go back and forth between there and Melbourne.”