Page 296 of Scars of Fate

“You didn’t look like you were guessing.”

“I’ve had practice pretending.”

His gaze moved toward me.

“How often?”

“What?”

“How often did you pretend with me?”

The question caught me off guard.

“Lucas…”

“I thought you were happy.”

“I was. Until I wasn’t.”

“It wasn’t one moment.”

“I know.”

I looked toward the runway.

Dawn spilled across the mountains.

For the first time in days, the world looked peaceful.

“I pretended I wasn’t afraid when you deployed. I pretended sleeping alone didn’t bother me. I pretended I didn’t notice how far away you remained after you came home.”

My throat tightened.

“And when I gave you the divorce papers, I pretended I wanted you to sign them.”

Lucas closed his eyes.

Pain moved across his face.

“I pretended too.”

“What?”

“That I could live without you.”

His hand found mine.

“I was terrible at it.”

“So was I.”

He pulled me closer.

Not kissing.

Not hiding.

Simply holding me while the Brave worked around us.