Chapter 16 - GUNTHER COULD PROVE HE HADN’T CONTROLLED HER LIFE, BUT HE COULDN’T ERASE WHY SHE SUSPECTED HIM
For six days, Kayla did not stay at Gunther’s house.
They did not break up.
That mattered.
She answered his calls.
They had dinner twice.
She kissed him goodbye once.
But she slept in her own apartment.
Gunther did not ask when she would return.
That mattered more.
On the seventh day, he came to her apartment because she invited him.
She opened the door wearing sweatpants and an old university shirt.
Gunther looked at the tiny living room.
“I’ve forgotten how small this is.”
Kayla shut the door.
“And yet civilization continues.”
He sat.
She handed him tea.
“I spoke to the board.”
“And?”
“They offered to return the grant.”
Gunther frowned.
“That would hurt patients.”
“I know.”
“What do you want?”
Kayla sat across from him.
“Transfer the foundation funding into a blind, independently administered pool.”
“Good.”
“No Woods board members.”
“Good.”
“No Victor.”
“Excellent.”
“No donor control over recipients.”
“Yes.”
“And the center can reapply like everyone else.”
“Done.”
Kayla’s eyebrow rose.
Gunther corrected.
“Agreed.”
She smiled faintly.
Then silence.
“You thought I did it.”
He said it without accusation.
Kayla looked down.
“Yes.”
“Does that change how you see me?”
“Yes.”
Gunther’s expression tightened.
She continued.
“Not because you were guilty.”
He looked at her.
“Because I realized I still believe you are capable of doing something like that if you convince yourself it helps me.”
He wanted to argue.
Couldn’t.
A year earlier?
Absolutely.
Maybe even six months.
“I understand.”
“That scares me.”
“It should.”
She looked at him sharply.
Gunther continued.
“I spent most of my life believing outcomes justified methods.”
“You’re changing.”
“Yes.”
“But changing isn’t the same as changed.”
“No.”
Kayla breathed out.
“I love you.”
Gunther stopped.
She had said it before in letters.
Occasionally in private.
But never during conflict.
“I love you too.”
“I also don’t trust every instinct you have.”
“Fair.”
“And I’m not sure love fixes that.”
“No.”
Kayla stared.
“You could fight me a little.”
“Would that help?”
“No.”
“Then I won’t.”
She laughed despite herself.
Gunther moved closer, but stopped before touching her.
“Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever think Elias might be easier?”
Kayla froze.
There.
The real fear.
Not jealousy.
Comparison.
“Easier?”
“He doesn’t have my history.”
“No.”
“He hasn’t ordered men threatened.”
“No.”
“He hasn’t gone to prison.”
“No.”
“He doesn’t need rules to remember not to have people followed.”
Kayla’s face softened.
“Gunther.”
“I’m asking.”
She thought carefully.
“Yes.”
He went completely still.
“I have thought Elias would be easier.”
He looked away.
“But?”
“No but.”
That surprised him.
Kayla continued.
“Easier isn’t the same as wanted.”
Gunther looked back.
“I don’t choose you because you’re difficult.”
“Good.”
“I choose you because when you are wrong now, you let me say it.”
“Because you make me laugh.”
“Because you’re annoying.”
He almost smiled.
“Because you love Sam without pretending Sam owes you forgiveness.”
“Because you went to prison and didn’t ask me to turn it into some tragic romance.”
“Because you learned to ask before sending a car.”
“Usually.”
“Usually.”
“And because when I looked at that grant and doubted you, you didn’t punish me for needing proof.”
Gunther’s expression shifted.
Kayla reached for his hand.
“Trust isn’t me believing you can never do something wrong.”
“What is it?”
“Believing we can look directly at it when you do.”
He turned her hand over.
Kissed her palm.
Later, they slept together.
Not dramatic.
Not desperate.
Afterward, Kayla lay against his chest.
Gunther stared at the ceiling.
“You know Elias is still irritating.”
She laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“He’s too reasonable.”
“You hate reasonable?”
“In other men near you, yes.”
Kayla smiled into his shoulder.
For the first time in a week, they slept without distance.
At 3:12 a.m., Kayla’s phone lit up.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
A photograph.
Gunther asleep beside her.
Taken from inside the bedroom.
Kayla’s blood turned cold.
Below it:
May you like
YOU THINK HE’S THE ONE WATCHING YOU.
YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG MAN.
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