Then I asked myself what I would do, knowing everything I know now.
Would I have stayed away? Chosen a different path?
The answer came as easily as breathing.
No. I’d still go through with it.
I’d still propose to her.
Still spend every day trying to make sense of the strange, quiet ways she showed affection, wondering endlessly if that was her way of saying she loved me.
And I’d still wait.
Wait like a fool.
Wait for her to say the words.
And maybe when she still didn’t, I broke.
Did things I never thought I was capable of, like what I did to Sloane now.
Yeah. I was cursed.
I stood up. Her eyes followed every movement.
“Believe me, Evie,” I said quietly, “one day you’ll thank me for leaving. You’ll find someone who loves you—really loves you—and makes you happy.”
Ipressed the doorbell with my elbow. Harper was already asleep in my arms, her breathing soft against my shoulder.
Sloane opened the door almost instantly. Her eyes met mine, then dropped to our daughter and softened.
Without a word, I stepped inside and headed straight for the stairs toward Harper’s room. Sloane followed quietly. Inside, she moved around the bed and pulled back the covers.
I laid Harper down gently. As Sloane tucked her in, I kissed her cheek and closed my eyes, letting the moment hold me, letting the warmth of her, the love I felt for her, settle deep in my chest.
Then I whispered in her ear, “I love you so much, baby girl. Love you for eternity.”
When I straightened up, I found Sloane watching me.
“I need to talk to you about something,” I said. “Let’s go downstairs.”
“Okay,” she replied slowly, confusion flickering across her face.
I left Harper’s room first and made my way downstairs, settling at the dining table.
Sloane followed not long after. She pulled a wine bottle from the fridge, grabbed two glasses from the cabinet, and sat across from me.
Without a word, she poured us both a glass.
I took a sip, set the glass down, and said, “Evie’s in our hospital. She had an accident. The guy in the other car brought her here.”
I watched as Sloane’s face shifted, calm giving way to quiet apprehension.
“She said she’s not going to cause any trouble,” I added. “I went to see her with Caroline and Caleb. Caroline said her piece.”
“Is she alright?” Sloane asked.
My eyes drifted shut at that.
