Page 8

CHAPTER THREE

LUKE

I toss over to my back and think about out of all the places I could have chosen to pick up the pieces of what was left of our hearts, I choose a town that had Dayna Evans in it.

I guess it’s Dayna Carter now. I can’t be too hurt that she’s married.

It has been well over a lifetime ago when I thought I’d be the one to put a ring on her finger.

Guilt washes over me at that last thought.

Seeing her standing there made me feel like I was a teenager again.

I haven’t thought about her in years. Juliette knew Dayna was my first and only girlfriend.

I didn’t just lose Dayna when she broke up with me, I lost Cara’s friendship along the way as well.

I never thought how it would have been for Dayna, I assumed she would have been fine since ultimately, it was her decision to end things between us .

It took me so long to get over her and when I felt like I was whole again, I met Juliette.

She made me feel more complete than I ever did before.

Like life before Jules was missing oxygen, and she was what I needed to breathe.

Now for almost 11 months, I’ve been struggling to breathe right without her.

The energy she left behind surrounds us daily, but it isn’t nearly enough for me to survive on.

The “what ifs” have kept me up late well into the long nights, like what if she never pulled over.

Or even one I fucking hate to think of but I do.

What if I never met her, she would still be here and her parents wouldn’t have to live without their only daughter.

But that would only mean, I wouldn’t have Sadie and that fucking kills me.

Now I only wake up to the “what is” in the morning and a cold empty bed.

My alarm blares, pulling me out of what barely counts as sleep.

I rub my eyes, swing my legs off the bed and drag myself toward the en suite bathroom.

The early light filters through the blinds, but nothing about this morning feels soft.

I’m hard as steel. It’s been…God, I don’t even know how long.

Too long. Here I am, standing half asleep, painfully hard.

The worst part? I feel gross. Not just in my body, but in my head.

Like I’m betraying Juliette. But the shame?

It doesn’t outweigh the tension clawing at me.

So I turn back to my room to make sure my bedroom door is locked.

Walking back into my bathroom, I turned on the shower and turned the knob all the way to scorching hot. What I really need to do is take a cold shower so my erection can go away but I need the release.

I get undressed, dropping my pajamas into the hamper in my closet and then step into my shower.

I wet my hair and let the hot water flow down my back.

I reach down, and wrap my hand over the base of my cock and I begin to stroke.

But I don’t get very far because I hear a knock at my bedroom door.

I sigh and lean my forehead against the shower wall. I let go of my slowly depleting cock .

“I’m in the shower,” I called out to Sadie. “Go lay down for a few minutes. I’ll be right there.” After I finish up my shower and dry off. I get dressed for work and I don’t feel like putting my contacts in, so I reach for my black-rimmed glasses and put those on. It’s going to be that type of day.

As I get Sadie’s lunch ready and drink my coffee, she’s sitting on the island coloring. She’s wearing a pink shirt and black shorts with black high top converse. Jules favorite type of shoes. They both had every color and used to match all the time.

I can feel Sadie’s little hazel eyes on me and I look at her as she asks, “Daddy, can you ask Ms. Carter if she can make more paper flowers? I want to save them for Mommy.” I am completely taken aback.

I clear my throat and tell her, “If I see her again I will, princess.” She laughs as if I said something hilarious.

“What is so funny, Sadie Girl?” She catches her breath and says, “Daddy, of course you’ll see her again, she’s your boss! ”

I get my phone out of my pocket and type in Stonebrook Elementary.

I click on the link and it pulls up my school’s website.

I scroll down and there’s her photo and name on display, underneath Principal McKenna.

“Dayna Carter, Vice Principal.” I take off my glasses and rub my eyes.

How did I not scroll further down when I was looking at this school when I applied? Fuck , I need more coffee.