WinterSleep85 came up with the lovely idea of a bonus chapter, so I'm gonna try it out.

Also, go check her out if you haven't already. Winter is super supportive, and such a nice person. She's great, and you should definitely check out her work.

Val is sort of a favorite for me, so I'm glad she was so well received, and I really do apologize for the abrupt stop with her feelings there. Hopefully, this chapter helps with questions.

Thank you all so much for making it this far and reading!

Val

I made a mistake the night I told Kelly I love her. I do, but that's neither here nor there. She wants Blake, and she deserves to be happy. She doesn't need the confusion of my unrequited feelings, nor does she deserve to feel guilty over something she can't help.

Sitting on my couch and watching Netflix alone is not as comforting as movies make it out to be. I make it about ten minutes before I shut off the TV and curl my knees into my chest, doing my best not to kick myself for my stupidity.

Kelly asked the next day about what I'd said, and like a coward, I told her she must have been dreaming. The truth is that I can't bear the rejection -- not without dissolving into a blubbering mess.

No, best to keep those feelings to myself.

A familiar ache settles into my heart, threatening to squeeze my chest until I can't breathe. I can't think about this right now. I need to find something else to occupy my time; something more constructive.

Throwing on a sports bra and a pair of yoga pants, I sit on the floor and stretch. Once I finish, I slip into my running shoes and go outside, locking the front door and stuffing my keys into my bra.

Then I run, and it takes me ten whole seconds to realize I forgot my music. I'm already moving though, and I don't want to ruin it, so I push through the jog, focusing on my breathing and counting my steps to a beat of four.

It's hot tonight and the air is dry, but that's normal. I don't expect the weather to dip below one hundred until September. And boy, do I want it to be December already so I'm not melting in my underwear. It hasn't been five minutes, and sweat is rolling down my boobs and clinging to my hair.

My pace falls into a steady rhythm, and soon, I'm on Baseline Road at a full run down the sidewalk. I ignore the catcalls and whistles from men in their calls looking for us. I tune out the occasional honk as cars pass.

Before I know it, I've run close to four miles, and I stop at the edge of a park, hands pressed to my thighs as I force myself to draw slow, even breaths. My heart races inside my chest, thumping so loud and beating so hard, it's all I can hear.

After a moment, I walk. The last thing I need is to stop my exercise without a proper cooldown. I make my way to the large, man-made lake, passing couples and families out for an evening together. Dogs tug on their leashes, kids zoom by on skateboards, and joggers carry themselves across the trail, their shoe soles slapping against the hot sidewalk.

What catches my eye though is a young woman on a bench, rubbing her eyes as if she's been crying. She is wearing a yellow sundress with white sandals, and her wavy red hair tumbles down her shoulders. She's pale, as if she'd spent her entire life out of the sun, but there's a strange appeal to her as the last vestiges of light kiss her hair.

Curious, I approach the bench and stop a few feet away. When she looks up, my breath hitches. Mascara trails down her cheeks, but despite this, she's gorgeous. Her eyes are hazel, shining gold against the sunlight, and her trembling pink lips are full, begging to be kissed.

The thought is completely inappropriate, but I can't help myself. She's so sad, and the nurturing side of me wants to comfort her and assure her everything will be all right.

I clear my throat and adjust my features into what I hope is a mask for my stampeding pulse.

"Are you okay?"

With a sniff, she wipes the tears from her face, smearing mascara everywhere. But she smiles and nods, speaking in a shaking voice.  "I'll be fine, but thanks for asking."

The timbre is musical and soft, like the perfect feel-good song you listen to at the end of the day when you need to wind down. I could listen to her all day. Perhaps she is a siren, calling me to my doom?

Her words are a polite dismissal, but like an idiot, I remain, unconvinced and unmoving. "I don't think so. What's wrong? Perhaps I can help?"

I turn the last sentence into a question, hoping she'll bite and speak to me. She bites her bottom lip and looks down as she turns her phone over in her lap. After a moment, she lifts her head and says, "I don't want to dump my problems on you like this. It's silly anyway."

"Not to you," I counter, taking a timid step forward. I motion toward the bench and ask, "May I?"

She nods and scoots over, making room as I take a seat and twist to face her. "So what's going on? It's not like you have to worry about my opinion since I'm a complete stranger. You might even feel better."

And boy, did I care about her opinion for some reason. I wanted her to open up, to share her troubles and smile. For some reason, I imagine she can light up the room when she's happy. Don't ask me why though. I don't know her at all, and my thoughts are totally crazy, but it's a gut feeling I have.

But she doesn't look at me like I'm a creep. She assesses me with those honey-flecked eyes, tilting her heads as she seems to consider me. Then she says, "It's stupid. I haven't been on a date in a year, not since my girlfriend and I broke up, and tonight was going to be my first time back in the water. I met her online, and I felt like we clicked."

"So what happened?" I prod, wondering who in their right mind would stand her up without giving her a chance first.

She giggles, though it is strangled and bitter. "Her husband called me. I guess he found my number and our messages. He didn't sound very happy. Called me a homewrecker and a slut."

Yikes. What a winner. The least he could have done was heard her side first before acting like a judgmental prick.

"Did you know?"

She shakes her head, sending a shimmering earring into her hair. She works to untangle it, furrowing her brows and pressing her lips together. Once it's free, she says, "Definitely not. I don't believe in coming between someone's relationship."

Relatable. I couldn't imagine wedging myself between anyone, no matter what the situation was.

"I'm sorry," I reply, genuinely meaning it. "Dating is hard enough. We don't need the drama of another partner involved. But maybe it's better you know now. At least you aren't finding out later. Besides, he sounds like a jerk, calling you a slut like that."

She shrugs before releasing a heavy sigh, returning her gaze to her lap. "I just wanted to have a nice evening, you know? The pandemic killed my social life, and this was supposed to be a positive step."

"It still can be," I offer, secretly thrilled she's into women and didn't just come out of a relationship. When she looks at me again with those glittering eyes and bemused lips, I continue. "Um, okay, maybe this is weird, but like... you made the decision to not pine over your ex and get back into dating. That's really hard to do. And uh..."

Now it's my turn to look away because I'm suddenly at a loss for words. Except when her hand touches the top of mine, my heart stops for a moment, and I gather the courage to finish my thought before I can talk myself out of it. "Well, maybe you can still salvage this. I was out for a run, and I'm totally sweaty and gross, but I was thinking I could go home and shower, and if you're up to it, come out with me instead."

"Like, on a date?" Her eyes crinkle as her lips curve upward. And she doesn't just have a smile that lights up the room; it's one that turns me into goo inside. Her makeup is ruined, and somehow, she's easily one of the most beautiful women I've ever lain eyes on.

Heat that has nothing to do with exercise creeps into my cheeks as I nod. "Or as friends or whatever," I mumble, kicking myself for losing my confidence that seems to have fled out the window.

But as she watches me, it's with a piercing, curious expression that pins me in place, praying she won't crush me like an insect.

My worries are unfounded though because she grins and rises to her feet, extending her hand out to me. "I'd like that. And I'm Erin, by the way."

My heart continues to soar, taking me up, up, up until my hand takes hers and I'm on my feet too, mirroring her grin with one of my own. "I'm Val. It's nice to meet you."

Very nice indeed. Together, we walk through the park, and the knot in my chest eases as I ponder all the possibilities that lie ahead of me.

Okay, I know it's short, but I hope you all enjoyed it. I wanted to let you know Val would be okay, and that there is always hope to a better future if you're willing to look for it.

Thank you all again!