's

rs to the floor

e I misheard. "Where is this com

t steady, unreadable stare that always makes my pul

g. "I mean exactly that.

apes me. "Micah, I

" he say

joking

eply, only r

rt. "You'r

." He

-eaten plates between us, as if t

nd, gathering the plates j

into the kitchen. "Are you

e water. "What does that

you might actually like the

n the couch, side by side. His nearness

is time?" he asks. "What

re," I mutter

oman at the event? Come on, Eva.

e, memories pressing down lik

till do. We were together for ten years. Since col

issue without a wo

ly said it out loud," I go on.

often. "Th

did. And then came the cheating...

knuckles whitening

ng that finally broke me." My voice shakes. "Last

e tears come hot and fast. M

and I find myself in that hospital corridor again,

rs after a moment, his voice

Just not for me." I swallow hard. "He was there,

His breathing turns shallow, angry. "

ng my face. "It d

or letting you

. What could

ce low. "Do you st

, startle

If you could make him regret everyt

The reminder of all the humiliation, the moc

on I don't want to

it," I admit. "To se

intly, and his eyes lig

what do you ge

shrugging. "You kn

ill lose

he say

nds. "Is it crazy th

es. "Just human. You wer

ne, a soft touch that lingers too long. I sh

mach twisting into

ways disarms me. "It's time you s

-

the next morning, eyes skimming the pal

b out of my suitcase

r to a pretend marriage af

smile slips as soon as

hisper, heart hammering as ner

nd. "Too late to

s forward. "

we sit. Micah hands over the papers,

rollably. I can't bel

, large and steady, anchoring

rk says, standing.

d walk to the small

gs," I whisper, su

and taps his pocket

echoing softly in the empty room. My mind s

take Eva Valentine as yo

e never wav

gold band on my fin

r hours, I've been divo

, take Micah Grayson as yo

, and I swallow

pronoun

n with a bang. We

spine st

e aisle, eyes bl