ry

or dinged

use. I hadn't moved from the sofa. I was still in my damp black dress from

ake's footsteps. He was movin

ed on, blindingly bright. I

The NHL's golden boy, the untouchable captain, looked exhausted. His perfectly styled hair was

, his voice roug

d. My voice w

ng... it was a nightmare. The franchise owners were breathin

t," I

ore, a movement behi

stepped out o

hat felt like a physical slap in the face on the day I buried my mother.

was a soft, trembling me

fensive husband to protective hero. He dropped his jac

small of her back. The way Claire leaned into him,

I asked. I didn't stand up

d a panic attack at the charity gala. Hyperventilated. She c

said. "To our home. On the

, his unyielding authority flaring up. "Don

he smel

the room. It was heavy, floral-gardenias and musk. It was cloying

s shirts for months. The scent I had told myself was just fro

ng at me with wide, watery eyes. "It's my f

her shoulder. "I... I think I left my shawl in the c

to Blake's whi

the collar

act shade of lipstick Cla

in my head-the grief, the thunder, the

It was a fact, printed in red w

legs felt surpr

se on the floor. I walked past

He looked down at me, expect

I asked. My voice was so quie

ry, look, I know I missed the servi

you buried your

n't look at Claire. I didn'

me hands that gripped a hockey stick and hoisted trophies. "We need to ta

and on my arm. Then I

issed. The venom in my voice startled

went inside and locked the door. The click of

e door once. "Open this doo

n't a

him sigh. "Fine. Pout. I

fted from the living room.

said. His foot

l I hit the floor. I pulled my knees up, wrappin

hed my

I whispered. "He doesn'

weeks ago, back when the suspicion had first started to rot my gut. Inside was

hands were shaking, but

inic in New Jersey, one that specialized in dis

ical," a voi

omorrow morning. Under the name Ave

n opening

take

want anything his NHL millions had bought me. J

he low murmur of voices. Then,

her's funeral. With hi

eeded. It burned away the fear

divorce papers I had drafted myself, finding templates online to

pped a

ars were for peo

y Montgomery. Not Knig

papers on

bag to my chest. I wouldn't sleep. I would just wa