FanStory.com - Barefoot in The Rain Chap 6by Begin Again

As Kendra stepped out onto the balcony, she leaned against the railing, grappling with the tangled mess of her emotions. Behind her, the faint sound of laughter and music drifted through the open doors, but out here, it was peaceful — isolated. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing and the chaos in her mind.

Vanessa's words echoed mockingly in her ears — You're out of your league — I plan on marrying him.

Kendra clenched her fists, anger, and doubt swirling. She had left James on the dance floor, his confusion evident, and now she wasn't sure she'd done the right thing.

The sound of a door opening behind her startled her. She turned, her breath catching, when she saw Ethan stepping onto the balcony. He paused, clearly surprised to find her there. "Oh," he said, his voice soft. "I didn't realize anyone was out here."

Kendra managed a faint smile. "It's a good place to escape."

He chuckled lightly, moving to stand beside her. "I can see why. It's a bit — intense in there."

They stood in silence for a moment, the city lights sprawling out before them. Kendra stole a glance at him, her heart aching with the memory of the train ride. The man she'd built up in her mind was so close, yet he felt unreachable.

"Beautiful night," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan nodded, his hands resting on the railing. "It is. The quiet helps."

She hesitated, then spoke before her courage could falter. "I don't know if you'll remember, but we met — on a train. A few weeks ago."

He turned his head slightly, his brow furrowing in thought. "A train?"

"Yes," she said quickly, her voice laced with hope. "You helped me —well, you helped me catch the train. It was raining, and —" Kendra snickered. "I wasn't wearing shoes."

His lips quirked upward in a faint smile, but his eyes held confusion. "I wish I could say I remember, but I've been dealing with some memory issues. After my accident."

Kendra's heart sank, reality settling over her. "That makes sense," she said softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot."

"No, it's okay," Ethan replied, his gaze steady on hers. "It sounds like it was important to you."

"It was," she admitted before looking away, embarrassed. "But I guess it was just one of those fleeting moments."

Ethan was quiet for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Sometimes fleeting moments mean more than we realize."

Her eyes flicked back to him, her breath catching at the sincerity in his tone. Before she could respond, the door opened again, and Vanessa stepped onto the balcony.

"There you are," she said brightly, sliding an arm through Ethan's. Her gaze flicked to Kendra, assessing the moment before speaking to Ethan. "We've been looking for you."

Ethan straightened, his polite smile returning. "I needed a bit of fresh air."

"You might catch a chill. We can't have you sick again," Vanessa said, her voice sugary sweet. She turned to Kendra, her tone taking on a pointed edge. "It's nice to see you mingling." She smiled and turned her attention to Ethan as she moved toward the door. "It's almost time for another reading. Are you sure you're up to it, darling?"

Kendra stiffened, but she forced a smile. "Enjoy the rest of the evening."

As Vanessa led Ethan back inside, he glanced over his shoulder, his gaze lingering on Kendra for just a second longer than necessary. It wasn't recognition, but it was something — enough to make her chest tighten.

She stayed on the balcony, the cold air biting through her dress as she tried to sort through the storm of emotions. Inside, James was probably wondering where she had gone, and Ethan was lost in a world she didn't belong to.

She pressed her palms to her cheeks, willing herself to focus. She couldn't keep doing this — not to herself or James.

But the spark Ethan had lit inside her refused to be snuffed out.

She took a deep breath, smoothing the fabric of her dress as she stepped back inside. The warmth of the gala wrapped around her, but it did little to thaw the chill in her chest. She scanned the room and spotted James near the refreshment table with a glass of champagne. His brow furrowed slightly when he saw her approach, but he quickly masked it with a warm smile.

"There you are," he said, his voice light but tinged with concern. "I thought maybe you'd slipped out and left me to fend for myself."

Kendra managed a small laugh, shaking her head. "No, just needed some air. It's a bit overwhelming."

James's expression softened as he set his glass down. "I get it. These events can be a lot, especially with how extravagant this one is." He offered his arm. "Ready to head out?"

Kendra hesitated, glancing around the room one last time. She caught a glimpse of Ethan and Vanessa across the room, deep in conversation with another couple. A pang of something she couldn't quite name — regret, longing, frustration — tugged at her, but she pushed it aside.

"Yes," she said finally, looping her arm through his. "Let's go."

James led her to the coat check, his presence steady and comforting. As they stepped outside into the crisp night air, he glanced at her, his brown eyes thoughtful. "You've been quiet tonight," he said gently. "Everything okay?"

Kendra forced a smile, though she knew it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just a lot on my mind. Work, you know — just everything."

James nodded, his hand brushing hers as they walked. "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

Her chest tightened at his sincerity. James had been kind and patient, yet her heart was still pulled in two directions — toward the man beside her and the one who didn't even remember her.

"Thanks, James," she said softly. "I appreciate that."

They walked in companionable silence until they reached her apartment building. James hesitated on the sidewalk, his hands tucked into his coat pockets.

"I had a nice time tonight," he said, his voice low.

Kendra smiled, a flicker of guilt threading through her. "Me too."

He studied her for a moment as if weighing his next words before leaning in to press a light kiss to her cheek. "Goodnight, Kendra."

"Goodnight, James," she murmured, watching as he turned and walked down the street.

As she climbed the steps to her apartment, Kendra's emotions churned. She knew she needed to sort through the mess in her heart, but tonight, all she could do was collapse onto her couch and replay the moments that had set her world spinning.

*****
A few days later, Kendra left work and decided to grab a latte and read through her notes before catching the train. She stepped into the bustling coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wrapping around her like a comforting hug.

Balancing a latte and a small stack of papers, she scanned the room for an empty seat, but every table was occupied.

Her eyes landed on Ethan, who was seated near the window with a latte in hand. He glanced up, and their eyes met. A flicker of recognition crossed his face, and he offered her a warm smile.

"Hi — we met at the reading, right?" he asked, his voice cutting through the hum of conversation. "Looks like it's packed in here. You're welcome to join me if you'd like."

"Thanks," Kendra replied, maneuvering her coffee and papers as she slid into the chair across from him. She fumbled with her bag, feeling slightly self-conscious.

Ethan chuckled softly. "Looks like you've got your hands full."

"Always," Kendra said with a wry smile, finally settling in.

Their conversation began politely, with exchanges about work, favorite coffee orders, and the challenges of city life.
"I've been recovering from an accident," Ethan shared, his tone thoughtful. "It left me with some memory loss. Amnesia, technically. It's been... an adjustment, trying to piece everything back together."

Kendra's heart clenched. She hesitated, her voice soft when she finally spoke. "I'm so sorry. That must be incredibly hard."

He nodded, offering a faint smile. "Some days, I feel like a stranger in my own skin. But it's not all bad. It's given me a chance to rethink things — focus on what really matters."

Kendra studied him, the vulnerability in his words tugging at her emotions. There were glimpses of the man she'd met on the train — the warmth, the humor — but there was no sign that he remembered her.

As the conversation deepened, she felt both drawn to him and frustrated. How could he feel so familiar yet so distant?

Before they parted, Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card. "I'm hosting a gallery event this weekend," he said, handing it to her. "It's a fundraiser for a nonprofit I've been supporting. You should come."

Kendra took the card, their fingers brushing briefly. A spark — fleeting but undeniable — passed between them.
"I'll think about it," she said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.

Ethan smiled, his blue eyes meeting hers for a lingering moment before he rose to leave. "It was nice talking with you, Kendra. Hope you can make it on Saturday."

"Thanks," she replied, watching as he disappeared into the crowd.

Left alone, Kendra stared at the card in her hand. The pull she felt toward him was undeniable, but so were the complications. As she sipped her latte, her mind swirled with thoughts of the past, the present, and the uncharted path ahead.

*****
Kendra stood in front of her closet, holding up two dresses, frowning at her reflection. "Which one looks more casual but elegant?" she asked, glancing at Rachel, sprawled on the bed with her phone.

Rachel looked up briefly, arching a brow. "The green one. It's classy but not over the top. Perfect for someone just supporting a fundraiser." She snickered and returned to her phone.

Kendra shot her a look. "It is a fundraiser."

Rachel set her phone aside, sitting up and crossing her legs. "Right, for a nonprofit Ethan is hosting. The same Ethan you've been daydreaming about since you met him on the train and, oh yeah, the same Ethan who doesn't remember you."

Kendra sighed, holding the green dress against her. "I'm just curious about him. And it's for a good cause."

Rachel smirked. "Sure, you're curious about the cause. But why didn't you ask James to go with you if that's the case? I mean, you two just went to that book reading together. If this is purely about supporting the fundraiser, wouldn't bringing him as your date make sense?"

Kendra froze, the dress slipping from her fingers. "I didn't think —"

"Exactly," Rachel cut in, standing and folding her arms. "You didn't think about James because this isn't about the fundraiser. And don't pretend it's just about curiosity. You're hoping for something with Ethan, and that's fine. But maybe you should be honest with yourself — and James — before diving in."

Guilt churned in Kendra's stomach. "James and I aren't — we're not serious. We've only been out a couple of times."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "And yet, he's clearly interested. Don't kid yourself, Kendra. If you're using James to distract yourself from Ethan, that's not fair to him."

Kendra turned back to the mirror, smoothing the fabric of the dress. "I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I just need to figure out what this is. If it's even real."

Rachel softened, stepping closer and resting a hand on Kendra's shoulder. "I get it. Just be careful, okay? You're walking a fine line here. Don't let curiosity turn into regret."

Kendra nodded, her voice quiet. "I'll be careful. I promise."

Rachel gave her a small smile, stepping back. "Then put on that dress and go knock 'em dead. Just remember, fire burns — don't get too close without a safety plan."

Kendra managed a faint laugh, slipping into the green dress. But as she fastened the necklace around her neck, Rachel's words lingered, weighing heavier than she wanted to admit.