Page 42 of Shattered

“Axel.” Jake recovered first, arranging his face into something approaching friendly. “Good to see you. What are you doing here?”

“He lives here,” Delia said before I could respond. “Temporarily. Axel’s staying with me.”

Something warm unfurled in my chest—small, primitive, entirely inappropriate. The satisfaction of being chosen to stay.

Jake’s expression twitched with surprise, then something that might have been anger wrapped in tight control. His knuckles whitened around the flower stems, like he was holding on to the last thing he still controlled.

“That’s generous of you,” he said, eyes flicking to me with calculated politeness. “I remember you mentioning at that gala that you were family friends. Very kind of you to help out Daniel’s sister.”

The emphasis on “sister” was deliberate — a reminder of exactly where he thought I belonged.

“It’s not generous,” I said evenly. “It’s necessary. Someone needed to be here.”

Jake’s jaw clenched but he didn’t take the bait. Smart. Or maybe just desperate enough not to pick a fight. He turned back to Delia, still holding out the roses like an offering.

“Please, at least take these?—”

“I don’t want them.” Delia’s voice was quiet but firm. “Jake, I don’t want flowers.”

“Right. Of course.” He lowered them, looking lost. “I really need to talk to you though. I know I have no right to ask, but I’masking anyway.” His voice cracked slightly. “Please. Just give me the chance to explain.”

Delia’s expression softened. I watched it happen—the way her walls lowered despite everything, as she probably remembered whatever version of him she’d loved.

“Coffee,” she said. “Tomorrow. One hour.”

The takeout bags nearly slipped from my grip. Just slightly—just enough that I had to catch them, the plastic handles cutting into my palms as I tightened my hold.

“Thank you.” Jake looked so relieved I wanted to put my fist through the brick wall beside us. “Thank you. I’ll text you the details.”

He left, glancing back once before turning away, the roses a spray of red disappearing down the stairs.

We stood on the landing in silence.

“Are you okay?” I asked finally.

“I don’t know.” She wrapped her arms tighter around herself. “He says Jennifer lied. About everything. He was drunk at some charity gala, she told him they’d slept together and she was pregnant. He believed her. Found out yesterday it was all fake.”

The words rearranged themselves in my head. Convenient. Too convenient. Like anything would excuse the scumbag he was.

“Do you want to ignore him?” I asked, my voice steady despite the commotion in my heart.

“Honestly? Yes. I was finally feeling okay and now everything’s complicated again.” She looked at me with those hazel eyes. “What should I do?”

Tell her not to go. Jake had his chance. He’d thrown it away.These were the thoughts that assaulted my mind.

I wanted her to choose me.

“It’s your decision,” I said instead, because those were the right words. The fair words. The words someone who actually cared about her would say. “I’ll support whatever you choose.”

The words tasted bitter in my tongue, she seemed to noticed the bags in my hand. “You brought dinner?”

“I thought you might want?—”

“That’s perfect.” She moved toward the door. “Let’s eat.”

“Actually, I already ate.” The lie came too easily. Right now, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stomach anything. “This is just for you.”

“You already ate?” She looked up at me, her eyes pressing for the truth.