1. She deserves better.

Rowan.

My eyes snap open. Rays of light hitting me square in the face. I groan in pain. My head was

pounding as if there was someone using it as a fucking drum.

It takes a while to register that I am in my room, in Gabe’s house. It’s something we both did. He

has a room at my house, and I have one in his.

Groaning, I stand up and head to the bathroom. I turn on the shower and step under it. Using my

hands for support, I lean against the wall and try to put my jumbled thoughts in order. I don’t

remember much of last night except drinking.

Fuck! How the hell did I get here? How is it possible that I fell in love with Ava and didn’t realize it

sooner?

The moment the realization hit me, I went straight to the club. I rarely get drunk. I promised

myself not to ever get butt drunk after Noah was born. Normally, I just take a class or two, and

that’s enough. Yesterday, though, I needed it. I needed it badly.

There is no remedy for what I was feeling. No fucking cure. How do you even begin to deal with

the realization that you love the woman that you hated? The same woman you spent nine fucking

years hurting?

I sigh and get out of the bathroom. Feeling like I have aged at least thirty years. I haven’t been this

out of sorts in years.

After getting dressed, I head downstairs. I find Gabe having breakfast.

“Where is June?” I ask, referring to his housekeeper.

“She’s made us breakfast and left. She said that she wanted an early start to the market so she

could get fresh veggies.”

June had a thing against buying from grocery stores. For some reason, she believed that they

weren’t as fresh or organic as they wanted us to believe. She buys all vegetables, fruits, meat,

eggs, and milk from the local market, which is owned by a bunch of farmers.

“How are you feeling?” Gabe asks as I pour myself some coffee.

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

+16 BONUS

wanted to rush back to her house and tell her immediately. I would have if my rational side hadn’t won. It was too soon to tell her. She wouldn’t

me at

awareness, I was fucking terrified. Is this

Loving me but also knowing that

you swore never to get

know, but I needed it. I needed to numb the pain. You can’t understand how difficult it was to realize that I love

that I may have lost my chance with her all because I

it every time I show up to pick Noah up, and she frowns at me in

I follow her around like a damn lost

the only way to

through at my hands. What she is dishing out is nothing compared to what I did to her. Yet it still fucking hurts.

nine fucking years?

be completely out of her life for good. I want to

that because she deserves better, but I can’t let her

did that happen? The

asks me, looking puzzled.

were in

one that insisted that I had

that. He wouldn’t let it go, even after I told him

in love with Ava. I guess he just knows me better than I know myself. He

didn’t want

was telling me you loved Ava, but your insistence at times

was wrong.”

only wish is that I had

been easier to

+15 BONUS

in the bitter memories.

her I ruined her. I broke her. My actions and words chipped

until there was nothing

wish to be in your shoes” Gabe whistles and I glare

me. I want to know when it happened. When did you

I can’t pinpoint the exact time. Maybe it

I know is that I love her

hand through my hair. I was frustrated and fucking scared. What a lousy time to

you love someone!

after Noah was born. I also think you

to love her because you held on to the memory of Emma. She was your first

You can’t live with someone for nine years and

have

biological process. I just got what I needed from

she was Emma.” I tell him, feeling sick to the core at

treated her. 1

1

you imagine you were fucking Emma because you missed her or because

back? Something that would guard you from

Ava because you felt that enjoying

Emma that you held on to for dear

sit on the

I

about it like that. I admit I

to her; otherwise, how would I explain how the hell I was able to get it up

right, and I used Emma as

had already betrayed the love of my life once; how then could I betray her

by sleeping with and enjoying Ava’s body? It all made sense in my

realize that Emma was never the love

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255