Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

The housekeeper cinto the den with a message that set Fitch's teeth on edge. “Sir, Ms. Bennitt is at the front gate. Should I let

her in?”

Fitch felt an immediate distaste at the thought of seeing her. He had pegged her as a stable sort, never imagining she could stir up

such scandal.

“No,” he replied, his voice sharp with finality. After his brief response, he grabbed his coat from the rack and exited through the

back door.

It wasn’t until he pulled up to the pet store that he realized why he had driven there.

Ozzy was gone, and in a way, it was on his conscience. It only seemed right to get a new puppy for Zoey as a gesture of

atonement.

But as he walked among the rare breeds, his gaze kept being drawn to a memory of a scrappy little gray mongrel that somehow

seemed more sincere, more beautiful than the ones before him.

Hesitating only a moment, he chose a pristine white pup and, carrying it in a crate, inquired about Zoey’s whereabouts.

Learning that she was in the hospital, he immediately set off in that direction.

Halfway there, he realized that he wouldn't normally do such a thing for anyone else. His brow furrowed as he pondered whether it

was his involvement that had dragged Zoey into this mess to begin with.

Pressing the accelerator, he continued toward the hospital.

Zoey's fever had broken, and she was awake, though her lips were cracked and bloody. She said nothing, staring blankly at the

ceiling, haunted by dreams of Ozzy wagging his little tail, and then of Wendy heartlessly dropping him from a height. Pain throbbed

a place that

she

and placed it beside Zoey. “Drink ssoup; you're

sit up, her stomach churning

she clutched her stomach, “Cornelia, could I have a

leave for now and check on you later. The nurses will bring your

lost too

Zoey had lost

smile but found it impossible to

out, wearing a hospital gown with the window ajar, letting

threaten to break her.

to reality, followed

look up.

familiar presence made her turn. Standing

wouldn't have been able to stay composed, but now,

truly liked Fitch? Liking him was exhausting, painful, and she never seemed to

white dog inside. “To make it up to you,” he said, his voice as detached as ever, even in

moment of supposed amends.

Zoey blinked, uncomprehending.

first the'd cto see her of his own

and flung it

was her turn to deliver the word he had hurled at her

“Get out.”

eyelashes quivered, his brow

reaching for a cup and throwing it at his forehead with all the strength she had

she repeated, her voice eerily

rage, but then he

noticed how much she had withered, the standard-size hospital gown hanging loosely on her frame. Her

him, the light that used to shine from

frozen, unable to

the best he could muster

gesture of politeness in response