Open Wounds (Harbour Bay #2)(19)
Kellie certainly knew where to slide the blade for maximum damage. Amelia wanted to dissociate from the memories and emotions her words brought, not wanting to feel but she couldn’t, powerless to stop them from having an effect on her, sharp and painful. The fight went out of her.
Amelia raised her hips, bringing her body off the floor and twisted like a pretzel, unhorsing Kellie from her perch. She tumbled to the side, losing her grip on Amelia’s arms. They each sat up, breathing heavily.
A collective groan came from outside the ring as money exchanged hands once more. Slowly the crowd dissipated as it became apparent the show was over. They made no attempt to move, and Amelia wasn’t entirely sure if she could. Her muscles felt like wet spaghetti.
“So, you ladies work out your differences?” Nick asked good-naturedly as he joined them in the ring.
Amelia glared at him. “Don’t you dare say a word,” she warned.
Nick sent a smile her way, unfazed at the warning. He reached down and lifted Kellie to her feet before giving her some instructions on how to improve her technique.
Amelia stood, slightly incensed. “Hey, you work with me, remember? You may want to rethink where your loyalty is.”
“What?” Nick asked innocently. “I was just trying to help…unless of course you’d like me to instruct you?”
“Quit while you’re ahead, Nick,” Kellie told him.
“While you still have a head,” Amelia muttered.
“I’ll leave you to it, then. Quite a show, ladies. I fear for any man who dares cross you.”
He left them, moving over to the weights he’d probably been using before Amelia and Kellie had starred centre stage. Kellie waited until he was out of earshot before she spoke. “So, are we good?”
Amelia took off her gloves and placed them on the bench nearby.
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“There’s something to be said about Donovan Style. No bullshit, just anger and fists…works every time.”
***
Fifteen minutes later, Amelia startled when Kellie placed two glasses and a bottle of Scotch down hard on her desk. She had been so engrossed in the lives of the two dead men, she’d not heard her approach.
Kellie wheeled over a chair from Dean’s empty desk. The Pig Pen had been deserted as was most of the floor, their fellow officers either out on call or catching up on missed sleep. She sat down and poured two fingers of Scotch into each glass.
Outside, darkness had fallen over the city, casting shadows throughout the streets, offering places for the thieves to hide, ready to pounce on the first unsuspecting person.
There had once been a time when Harbour Bay had been a thoughtful and caring community striving to better itself. Now, only the tourists believed that. The city had become overrun like all large cities had been by the disrespectful and cruel, preying on the weak, and it took the police everything they had and more to crack down on crime.
She and Kellie had both showered and changed back into their work clothes. The desire to fight had dissipated, leaving only exhaustion and a need to mend their friendship. They had been through too much together to let it all go.
She hadn't thought her protective hovering had made matters worse. Guilt twisted in her gut. All these years she'd been angry with Kellie for walking away but she'd practically been pushing her.
Why the hell had she not said anything?
“I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of, but I can’t change any of that,” Amelia said. “I can only move forward and hope the crap doesn’t follow me. I never thanked you for getting me out of there. I know I owe you for everything, and one day I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
Amelia raised her glass, making her declaration a toast as well as a promise.
Kellie shook her head, her blonde strands falling over her shoulder.
“You owe me nothing. What you did, you did on your own. You never thought yourself good enough for anything…but I knew better. I knew the real you, and you’re worth more than anything in this world. Don’t forget that. You’re here because you wanted to be here, not because of what I did.”
Amelia shifted uncomfortably. She’d never been good at accepting or examining her feelings, especially not feelings that continued to grow, whether it became a friendship or a sexual relationship. But she knew Kellie was right. She had been put down so much in her younger years, told how worthless she was so many times she’d begun to believe it. Kellie made her realise long ago that she had so much to offer, that she wasn’t as useless as she’d thought.
If it hadn’t of been for Kellie’s attack, she’d never have found her true calling. She couldn’t imagine being anything other than a cop.
Amelia bit down on her bottom lip. She never wanted to admit just how much she wanted and needed Kellie in her life. She’d changed, hardened over the years since Kellie's abrupt departure. She'd never wanted to allow anyone else power to hurt her like the person she'd trusted the most. She thought she could live without her, that she could just close the door on that part of her life, but the two women were connected, closer than she’d ever thought. She could forgive Kellie, knowing now all that her friend had battled, though she wished Kellie had confided in her.
“I love you, Kel. I didn't want to after…but I do and you know I don’t say that to anyone easily. I’m not the touchy feeling type of person, but I missed you, missed what we were…and if you ever mention this night to anyone, I will kill you.”