Page 52 of Shattered

My hands froze on Elsa’s shoulder. The music kept playing, but I couldn’t hear it over the sudden rush of blood in my ears. Jake in his expensive wool coat, leaning against the doorframe like he’d done a hundred times before—like he still had every right to be there.

Elsa noticed my distraction, her small body twisting to see what had stolen my attention. “Miss Delia? Is that your boyfriend?”

Seven years old and already too observant for anyone’s good.

“No,” I said, forcing my fingers to release Elsa’s shoulder. I kept my eyes on her even though I could still see Jake in my peripheral vision. “Remember—shoulders down. Yes, just like that. Perfect.”

But my concentration was gone. For the remaining five minutes, I went through the motions—correcting posture,counting beats, offering encouragement—while fully aware of Jake’s presence. He didn’t come in. Didn’t interrupt. Just watched through the glass.

When I finally dismissed the kids, my voice came out higher than usual—too bright. The children scattered to collect their bags and find their parents, their chatter filling the studio while my stomach twisted itself into knots.

“Hey.” He dipped his hands into his pockets, casual in a way that felt practiced. “I know I should have called first.”

“Then why didn’t you?” My hands found my water bottle just to have something to hold onto.

“Because you might not have answered.”

Fair point. I took a long drink, the cold water doing nothing to loosen the tightness in my throat.

“I needed to see you,” he said, stepping closer. “To talk without Axel hovering in the background.”

Irritation hit sharp and immediate. “He’s not hovering.”

“No?” Jake’s voice carried an edge now, something harder beneath the casual tone. “He’s living with you. Drives you everywhere. Cooks your meals. Shows up to family dinners.” He paused, watching my face. “That’s pretty involved for someone who’s supposedly just helping out.”

“He is helping. That’s literally what he’s doing.” But even as I said it, the memory of him seeing me in nothing but lingerie flashed hot across my face.

Mortifying. All because of a stupid roach.

Jake studied me, something in my expression clearly prompting the question. “Is something happening between you two?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It became my business the moment I realized I want you back.” He took another step, close enough now that I could smellhis cologne. The same one he’d always worn. “When I realized I’m willing to fight for you.”

“I’m not a prize, Jake. There’s nothing to fight for.”

He ran a hand through his hair—that familiar gesture of frustration I’d seen a thousand times. “I keep messing up, don’t I? I keep saying the wrong thing when all I want is to fix this. To fix us.”

I set down my water bottle before I crushed it. “There is no us to fix.”

“But there could be.” Another step. Close enough to touch now. “Don’t you remember how good we were together? Before everything went wrong?”

I did remember. Jake making me coffee early in the morning before work. Him talking about my art like I was already famous, like my success was inevitable. The way he’d look at me across a restaurant table like I was the only person in the room. The feeling of being someone’s first choice, their priority, their everything.

But I also remembered three hundred people watching me fall apart. My mother asking about a honeymoon that never happened. Standing in a wedding dress reading text messages that ended my future in two sentences.

My chest tightened. “I remember a lot of things. Not all of them good.”

“I know. God, Delia, I know I hurt you.” His eyes were getting red, his voice rough. “People make mistakes. They get scared, do stupid things, and spend every day after wishing they could take it back.”

My phone buzzed in my bag.

“Jake—”

“Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.” He backed toward the door, hands raised like he was surrendering. “Think aboutthe future we planned. The life we could still have if you’re willing to forgive me.”

I opened my mouth to respond—to say what, I didn’t know.