Life with Kylie

You woke up the next morning not necessarily rested, your mind kept dwelling on Anna and Amy. Kylie slept peacefully next to you, she, like her sister preferred to sleep on her own side of the bed unlike Amy. When the sun finally peeked over the horizon you got up, sleep wasn't coming so you could at least make yourself useful. You went out to do your chores, you didn't see Nyx out and you didn't dare go into the other house, you wanted to give Amy her space, at least that's what you told yourself.

When you came back later Kylie was still sleeping comfortably, you put on a pot of coffee and started making breakfast. Your mind raced, what would life with Kylie be like? As you finished cooking you felt arms around you and lips on your neck, you almost said your wife's name, this was her signature hello.

"Morning," said Kylie, "sorry I slept so late, I'm just so happy."

You turned and kissed her, she hadn't bothered to dress, her sexy body pressed to you.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Just feel bad about Amy," you said.

"She'll be fine," said Kylie rubbing your cheek.

You put down the plates and Kylie sat on your lap rather then in a chair.

"Are you still following the Mets?" she asked, "you never used to miss a game."

"I actually haven't watched since I moved out here."

"Really," said Kylie, "can I tell you the truth? I never cared about the baseball, it was an excuse to see you."

"We watched so many games," you said.

"Mhm," she said, "one hundred and sixty two games a year, or as many as we could manage."

"Ky," you said looking at her basked in sunlight, "I had no idea."

"I meant it Dave," she said, "I was head over heels, still am."

You kissed her and she turned to face you, breakfast forgotten about.

"I'm so sorry about leaving," you said, your hands on her waist.

"It's in the past," she said, "I'm only concerned about the future, our future."

You held Kylie and she rubbed your head playing with your hair, it felt good, you felt safe and for a moment you wondered why you'd run away from her all those months ago.

"I've been enjoying those hikes," said Kylie, "I never thought I'd be a hiker but being out here, and with you."

"I'd love a hike with you," you said, "I've got a spot I'd like to show you."

Kylie eventually got clothes on and the two of you set off on a path. It wasn't your favorite destination but you had a feeling it would be Kylie's. You walked and chatted, mostly about what she'd been up to. Once she'd realized you were gone she had thrown herself into her practice, she had merged with a few other offices in other states to extend their reach.

"Here we are," you said reaching a clearing on the water, "it's not much now, but in the spring this is covered in wildflowers."

"I love wildflowers," said Kylie, "Anna," she paused, "always said they were just weeds."

"It's all a matter of perspective," you said, "you see the beauty all around you."

You turned to her so your bodies were practically touching, her big blue eyes staring into yours.

"Two years ago you were Anna's sister."

"And now?" she asked.

You kissed her and the sound of the running water faded in this moment Kylie was your entire focus. You had kissed her, had sex with her before but this kiss, in this moment made you feel like you were doing it for the first time.

"Wow," said Kylie as your lips parted, "that was a kiss."

A moment later as if right on cue Nyx showed up, she wasn't dressed for the cold and was sucking wind flailing wildly as she tried to speak. She'd clearly run the entire way from thr house. She motioned back towards the houses and you broke into a run not sure what you were running towards.

As you approached the houses a short while later you found an unfamiliar car parked outside. Sara was standing on the porch staring daggers at you and appropriately holding a dagger.

"You stay the fuck away!" she shouted.

You stopped at the foot of the porch.

"Is her out there?" came an angry but familiar voice.

Nicki stormed out a moment later and stopped on the bottom step staring right into your soul.

"I hope you're fucking happy," she seethed.

"Nicki," you started.

"You have nothing you can say to me," she said, "you broke her and you're lucky I'm just here to get her and not for retribution."

She turned back toward the house and you reached out to take her hand, to try to offer anything in the way of an apology. The second you touched her she turned around and hit square in the face. You dropped hard, it was a really good hit. Blood was on your face and in your mouth, your head was spinning a bit, you decided to stay where you were.

Nicki stood over you, a satisfied smile on her lips, "you will never touch me or my friends again."

"Hey!" shouted Kylie a moment later having finally returned with Nyx.

Kylie stepped right between you and Nicki.

"There's no need for ****," she said in what you assumed was her doctor voice.

"I'm done," said Nicki, "he's all yours."

Nyx stumbled over still sucking air and leaned against the porch. Amy emerged a moment later carrying her backpack flanked by Sara and Nicki. You decided it was a good time to get to your feet though you made no effort to clean your face.

"Ames," you said.

"She winced at the sound of your voice."

"Thank you," she said extending a hand, "for taking me in."

You shook her hand and she immediately pulled it back as if your touch pained her.

"Goodbye David," she handed you her phone and followed Nicki and Sara into the car, a moment later they were gone.

You stood, numb, even the throbbing in your face seemed to fade.

"Dave," said Kylie softly.

You walked up the steps and into the house cautiously, you weren't sure what you were afraid of until you saw it. The house was immaculate, like when you'd first prepared it. Everything was just so, except for Amy's room. It was still set up as she'd had it but everything she'd bought since living there was left, the clothes all folded neatly on the bed, the computer still there, the games where she'd had them. Worst of all, that was it, there was no note. You collapsed onto the bed and looked at the phone, she'd reset it leaving no trace. There was no panic attack, you couldn't worry you might lose her, you already had instead there was emptiness that only somewhat abated when you felt Kylie sit next to you.

"We don't have to talk," she said holding a first aid kit, "but at least let me clean you up."

Kylie worked delicately, there was concern on her face and you could tell she wanted to speak but said nothing. When she finished you sat in silence for a bit.

"Am I a bad person?" you asked.

"Dave," said Kylie taking your face in her hands, "oh Dave no."

"Because since Anna died I've hurt you, Nicki, Sara," you could barely speak, "Amy."

"You were grieving," said Kylie.

"But when does that stop being an excuse?" you asked.

"You take some time," she said, "I'll go check on Nyx."

You fell to your side, Amy's pillow smelled like laundry detergent, there was truly no trace of her left but the pit in your stomach. Time passed, it must have because it was dark now. You made your way back to the house. When you entered Kylie and Nyx were causing a calamity in the kitchen, pots were overflowing, smoke was everywhere.

"We wanted to make dinner for you," said Kylie who had apparently not learned to cook in the time you'd been gone.

"We can't cook," added Nyx.

"Frozen pizza?" you offered.

A while later you sat eating on the couch some mindless reality show on. After enough brain rot Nyx had fallen asleep in a large chair and Kylie brought you to bed. You sat as she got ready, still numb, you were happy for Kylie and for Nyx because you'd dealt with loss before and you knew you were shit at it.

Kylie came in and climbed onto your lap wrapping her arms around you.

"I need to apologize," she said.

The last shred of your sanity almost snapped, was she leaving.

"Ky," you said clinging to her perhaps a little harder than intended, "you can't, I, if you leave."

"Shhh," she said softly stroking your cheek, "I'm not leaving."

You hugged her to you and she rubbed your head playing with your hair.

"I didn't realize how much you and Amy meant to each other," she said, "and then I showed up and asked you to make an impossible decision. If I could do it all again I would have kept my feelings to myself."

"Ky," you said before she kissed you.

"You're not a bad person, no more than me."

You fell asleep wrapped around Kylie that night, you needed to feel you weren't alone and that hopefully, with time you would be able to give Kylie more than just that kiss by the stream.