AllFreeNovel
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He was a hunter.
A hunter who liked to torment his prey with hope instead of misery.
I didn’t remember the flight home.
I didn’t remember how I stumbled back into Teddy and Eddie’s house at midnight, all while clutching that photo of baby Aslan as if it would somehow bring him back to me.
I think I scared them as they guided me, unspeaking and unblinking to my room and put me to bed. I scared myself because all I could see, all I could think about was Aslan.
Aslan.
Aslan.
He’d been an adorable child.
His mouth reminded me of Ayla’s, and his dark eyes, looking so seriously into the camera, were direct replicas of his daughter’s.
The next day, Eddie knocked quietly on my door and brought my baby to me.
The moment I saw her, I didn’t notice the tall, slim Australian man with wavy light-brown hair and intelligent hazel eyes. I didn’t feel his hug as he sat on my bed, gathered me close, and passed Ayla into my arms...
I only saw her.
Felt her.
I dropped my head into her clean, powder-scented curls and cried.
I knew I couldn’t keep doing this.
I couldn’t keep sobbing into her perfect soft skin.
I couldn’t keep breaking all over her.
But in that moment, cradled by Eddie and curled around my child, I gave myself space to let go.
At some point, Teddy joined us. His blond hair so similar to his sister’s, his green eyes far too vibrant and astute, his lips plump and quick to smile. I sat between the two husbands, and they pressed matching kisses against my temples.
And despite everything.
Despite my hollowness.
My hurting.
My haunting, harrowing pain, I managed to lift my head, kiss both men on their whisker-covered cheeks, and have enough strength to face yet another month without him.
*
One year, two months...
*
I framed Aslan’s baby photo and placed it on my bedside table, next to a picture my parents had taken of us one evening after we’d told them we were together. I sat on Aslan’s lap at the glass table outside. Our plates held remnants of dinner, and the setting sun cast the garden in a ruby, golden glow. I hadn’t even known they’d taken the picture. My eyes were locked with Aslan’s. His lips slightly parted, his gorgeous face full of love as he studied me. The moment captured our visceral affection. Raw and blatant connection.
It broke my heart each morning to wake up to our lost love, but...it also forced me to be brave.
I’d gone to Turkey against his wishes.
I was still alive despite talking to Cem twice.
