Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

"Ariana, don't put so much pressure on yourself. You're an amazing mother.

"By the way, the hospital called. We can take Tabitha to pick up her report tomorrow, and she can start her treatment immediately.

"I think that the hospital environment might feel stifling for her, so I arranged for the therapy team to come to our home instead."

I looked up at him, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you. You've thought of everything."

Nicholas sighed and sat beside me. "She's my daughter too. What are you thanking me for?" He put an arm around my shoulder, his warm palm gently rubbing in silent comfort.

...

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I was startled to find myself staring at Nicholas' face.

I blinked and opened my eyes again, only to see the same scene the stubble on his face was so clear I could almost count the individual hairs.

pulling the blanket off him and exposing his well-defined chest, which rose and fell rhythmically with his

clothes. Seeing everything was

last night. We were just talking, but at some point, I must have

that

one swift motion, he flipped over and pinned me

didn't budge. Instead, he leaned

which came first. I heard him murmur, "If you regret it, we

he spoke, his hand moved toward the first button

down on his hand, my mind a

Tabitha, Cory-each of them should take precedence over anything between me and Nicholas. If I forced myself to be with him

would spiral into

against

I turned away,