Page 23 of Shattered Dreams

I watch my daughter laughing at something on the screen, chocolate smeared across her cheek, completely unaware of how her whole world has shifted.

How do I explain to her that Daddy still loves her, even if he broke Mommy's heart?

I look back at Kieron, whose eyes haven't left my face.

"I'm not ready to face him yet," I admit. "But I know I'll have to. For her."

He nods, understanding without needing more words. That's always been our way.

9

AVA

For one night, I almost feel like myself again. Not the scorned wife. Just Ava.

Thanks to Scott, Amanda, and Kieron, I get a few hours of something close to peace. We eat. We laugh.

But when Scott and Amanda retreat to bed, that quiet ache creeps back in. It reminds me of another night. A party. A different life.

FLASHBACK

"These people need to fuck off home now," Roman murmurs into my shoulder, his lips pressing against my bare skin. I giggle, already half-drunk on his attention.

"'These people' are our family and friends, babe."

He smirks against my neck, arms coiled around my waist as I scoop up empty beer bottles from the patio table.

"I need to be alone with my wife."

I dodge him, laughing, making it to the trash just in time to toss the bottles. But he's already behind me, spinning megently, pinning me to the wall. My heart stutters. For Roman, my husband, my person.

"Ro, you're?—"

He kisses me, slow and sure. The kind that makes your knees forget how to work. The buzz of wine still warm in my veins.

His mouth moves to my throat as I melt into him, the world shrinking down to just us.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"You're so bad," I murmur.

He grins, trailing a fingertip along my jaw before drawing me close. "It's your fault. It's the way you look at me. You're divine."

"It's because we're newlyweds," I tease.

He shakes his head. "No. It's because we're endgame."

PRESENT DAY

I snap back to the present, still raw from the memory of better times, when I thought everything was perfect and so easy to have.

That night, I thought we had everything.

Now I can't think of Roman’s name without choking on it.

"You okay?"

I blink, pulled from my thoughts by a voice that isn't Roman’s.