Page 74 of What He Always Knew

Because Iwouldfight for her — until the very end, I would fight. But if her happiness laid in the arms of another man in the end, I would lay down my gloves, and I would walk away for her. I loved her enough to do that, even if it would kill me in the process.

With one last, long breath, I pushed out the negative thoughts haunting me just for one night. For that one night, I would hold her, and listen to her heart beats, and feel her skin against mine.

For that one night, I would cherish my wife as if I wouldn’t get to keep her.

And before I fell asleep, I’d pray that I actually would.

Reese

Every song sounded wrong.

It was all I could focus on, though I tried hard not to, as the night I’d waited for all week spread out like a missed opportunity before my very eyes. It seemed like everything had been working against me — Blake, the first part of the conference, and just when I’d brought her back to me, the hospital ordeal.

I’d been counting down the days until the gala, knowing it would be a chance for me to get Charlie alone again — except it hadn’t. She’d been with Cameron all night, since the very first moment they walked in together, and I was going mad watching them.

I couldn’t win, and time wasn’t on my side, either.

Tomorrow marked two months.

Two months since she’d promised that time to Cameron, two months since I’d agreed to wait on the sideline, to give him a chance to fight. But I was done waiting.

And every song sounded wrong.

The one that played when I walked inside the beautifully decorated gala hall, Blake hanging on my arm, had been too fast and shrill. The one that filtered through the speakers when I excused myself to the bathroom to splash my face with water had been too low and ominous. The notes were all wrong, no matter what played, or who played it, and I realized music wasn’t the same when I wasn’t with Charlie.

Not anymore.

It was the end-of-the-year gala, a time for celebration, and a night when I would likely receive my first award as a teacher. And yet, I couldn’t find it in me to even pretend to smile. Because all night long, I’d had to watch from a distance as Charlie danced with Cameron, as she swayed in his arms to the awful music that had no rhythm.

She was more stunning than usual that night, her long hair pinned up in a delicate bun of braids, with soft tendrils hanging down to frame her jaw. Her eyes were dark and shimmery like stardust, playing off the midnight blue of her long dress. I needed her in my arms like I needed my next breath, but Cameron had her — he held my oxygen in his hands.

I was going to pass out if I didn’t get a gulp of air soon.

“They should be announcing award winners within the next half hour or so,” Blake said, flipping through the program for the evening. “It says it’s right after dessert, and they’re cutting up the cake now.”

I took a sip of my scotch, inhaling a stiff breath through my teeth at the burn. “Okay.”

Blake frowned, dropping the program to squeeze my shoulder, instead. “You okay over there?”

“Just nervous,” I lied.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Charlie. She and Cameron were dancing near the stage, and at that precise moment, her head was thrown back in laughter, and Cameron was smirking like he’d just shared the dirtiest secret with her.

My fist tightened around my glass.

“Oh, don’t be,” Blake said, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “You’re going to get it, and then we can celebrate tonight.”

She smiled suggestively at me, rubbing my neck, but I just took another drink with my eyes on the dance floor.

“I’m going to run to the ladies’ room,” she said, standing. “Freshen up before the awards start. Need anything? Another drink?”

“I’m good,” I told her, and as soon as she disappeared in the crowd, I pushed my way through it in the opposite direction — toward Charlie.

I drained the rest of my scotch on the way toward her, dropping my empty glass on a server’s tray just as she noticed me heading her way. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, warning me to stop, but it wasn’t physically possible now. My feet were moving too fast, my heart beating steady along with them, and I wouldn’t stop until I had her in my arms.

Cameron followed her gaze just as I reached them, and his eyes hardened at the sight of me, his arms tightening around Charlie.

“Mind if I cut in?” I asked him, forcing my most charming smile as I held my hand out.