AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Because he’s my fucking ex-husband.
Something I need to remember on the fucked-up merry-go-round that’s my head.
I bite the inside of my cheek. Hold in my groan…
And the urge to bang my head against the wall.
And then I deliberately push the thoughts out of my head, deliberately stop thinking about everything to do with Stefan, with me, with our painful past and fucked-up present.
I’m a good mom.
I can continue with that, can focus on that, can?—
The knock has me jerking upright, realizing that somehow I’ve fallen asleep. My neck and back and side hate me, but I’m not focused on my screaming and seizing muscles, not when I realize I’ve pushed myself to sitting off a pillow that has somehow materialized beneath my face.
With all of my magical skills.
Right. And their name is Stefan.
My ex-husband.
I internally shake my head then exhale, push the pillow from my mind (along with the one person—man—who could have put it there), and turn toward the woman in the lab coat walking our direction. “I’m here to take Roxie up to CT. Which one of you guys is coming with me?” she asks, glancing down at her clipboard. “The other will just need to hang out here. It won’t be long.”
I nod, push up to my feet, intending to follow.
But Roxie is awake.
And she breaks my heart—though not with any ill intent.
Just with the childlike innocence of her saying,
“I want Dad.”
I freeze, eyes shifting to the bed, to the woman who’s set down her clipboard and is now fiddling with the controls on the bed, unlocking the brake, then over to Stefan who’s holding as still as I am.
And finally, to Roxie, who’s hurting and scared and wants her dad.
“Of course, baby,” I say, stroking a hand over her forehead, bending and pressing a quick kiss there. She’s still running a fever, still unwell.
So, I step back.
“I’ll take good care of her,” the woman says, pushing the bed forward, rolling it toward the door, Stefan trailing behind.
“I know you both will,” I murmur, thighs trembling, having to lock my knees as I watch them go.
Stefan glances over his shoulder as he turns the corner, his pale blue eyes connecting with mine.
I suck in a breath.
My legs threaten to give way.
But I hold it together as he pulls his gaze from mine and follows Roxie.
Only then do I give in and allow my knees to buckle, my ass to hit the thin padding of the hospital-grade chair, the tears in my eyes to well up and over my lashes, to drip down my cheeks.
But I don’t let them fall for long.
I don’t want my baby girl to see that I’m upset.
