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I pressed my palm to my chest. “Me. I will stand between her and your childhood.”
He stilled; his eyes locked on mine.
I looked down and squeezed my eyes shut, holding back my tears.
“I love you, Ares. You’re a good father, and an excellent boyfriend. Any girl would be proud to have you.”
I waited the space of a heartbeat for words that didn’t come.
Deafened by his silence, I left.
Comfort
Hope
Broken.
Lost.
I don’t trust myself.
Half a man.
Autopilot kicked in as I slipped behind the wheel. It frightened me that I didn’t remember the drive home.
Though I welcomed the blessed numbness.
My place felt too small and too large at the same time. Empty without Brayleigh. Lonely without Ares and Inky.
And so very small compared to Ares’ spacious home where I’d been playing a dangerous game of house.
The day turned to night as I sat and stared into space. Thinking about everything and nothing as I worked my way through Giovanni’s bag of sweetness. It was close to midnight before I remembered I hadn’t even told Ares about losing my job.
It paled in comparison to losing him.
I shot up, jumping off the couch. For a nanosecond I came alive. I could go to Greece with him!
Almost as quickly as the idea hit me, I recoiled and covered my face with my hands. Shame boiled my cheeks. Because I wasn’t invited. Or wanted.
Uncertainty covered me like an itchy blanket. Impossible to ignore.
It was just some time away. A vacation to see his grandparents. Introduce them to Sia.
No matter how many times I tried to convince myself, I knew it was more than that.
Frustration pummeled me, and I yearned to hit something. Or someone. Namely his stepmonster.
My body vibrated.
My breath shuddered in and out unevenly.
My hands trembled.
And, still, I stuck to my story.
It was just some time away. A vacation to see his grandparents. Introduce them to Sia.
My stomach a bag of knots, I yanked off my clothes and slipped into bed.
