Page 14 of Shattered Dreams

I groan as the cool water soothes my sun-kissed skin. Roman draws me close, his mouth finding mine again, tongue stroking deep as my legs lock around his waist. I break away, breathless, laughing against his lips. "I wasn't really paying attention…" I tease, my hands threading through his damp hair.

"No?" His grin widens, his arms tightening around me. "Let me refresh your memory." His voice drops lower, rougher. "I said you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met—inside and out. I said I wanted to grow old feeling this lucky. Every damn day."

I stare at him, my heart pounding, my fingers brushing his hair from his face as I shake my head softly.

"What?" he laughs, that devil's smile lighting up his whole face.

"Why me?" I whisper. "You could've hadanyone."

He holds my gaze, his smile softening into something reverent.

"That's exactly why it’s you."

PRESENT DAY

"Earth to Ava!"

I blink, snapping back to find Shannon waving her hands in front of my face.

"Jeez, where did you go?"

"Back to our honeymoon."

Her eyes soften instantly. She reaches for my hand across the couch.

"Oh, babe. I'm so sorry he's done this to you. If it's any consolation, she's nothing compared to you."

I try to gulp down my tears, waving a dismissive hand at myself. "Compared to a twenty-one-year-old model, I feel like a ninety-year-old who's just been dug up. How could I ever compete with that?"

Shannon's expression darkens as she shoots a glare toward the door Roman stormed through hours ago. "You shouldn't have to compete," she replies fiercely. "There's always going to be someone younger, prettier, thinner?—"

"You're really not helping," I whisper as fresh tears blur my vision.

Flashes of the online photos burn behind my eyelids—Roman leaving a hotel late at night, Roman sprawled half-naked in her bed, Roman's lips pressed to hers.

I let out a moan that sounds like I’m dying.

"Stop it," Shannon orders, squeezing my hand.

"I'm hiswife, Shannon!" I choke out. "Howdarehe do this to me!"

"I know, I know," she soothes, holding me tighter. "Your aunt wants to kill him."

I bet she does. Aunt Jane stepped in without hesitation when my mother died, raising me as her own even though she was barely thirty herself. My father wasn't in the picture—hadn't been since I was six. Aunt Jane was the only real parent I had after Mom was gone.

I'm sobbing again, and she pulls me into her arms, rocking me, kissing the top of my head.

"I'm staying here," she murmurs. "Just for a few days."

"But what about Axel?"

Even as I ask, I already know Axel—her husband, Roman's teammate—would never begrudge her staying. Axel is kind. Axel would be just as angry.

Her gaze hardens. "He's with your husband. Trying to figure out what the fuck he was thinking."

My chest caves inward. The weight of everything presses down, suffocating me.

By one in the afternoon, I don't even hesitate when she hands me a glass of wine.