“You crawled out of his bed and into mine,” I say.
She’s openly sobbing. The sound breaks my heart more than the past did.
“Mommy?” Milo’s small voice whimpers.
Lore clamps down on her cry instantly. “It’s okay, Mil,” she says without looking back.
My hand grips the wheel so tight my knuckles ache. I pull the car over to the shoulder and put it in park.
Pressing the seatbelt release button, I pause with my hand on the door.
“I need some time,” I say.
I can feel her panic spike even without looking at her.
“Patrick, where are you going?”
Without turning back, I say, “Go home.”
And then I start walking.
No destination in mind. No plan. Just the sound of traffic hissing past and my own heartbeat hammering behind my ribs.
I haven’t so much aslookedat another woman since I met Lore.
I only offered the non-exclusive bullshit because I didn’t want to break up.
I’ve always been the one doing the chasing in our relationship.
Even when we met.
I’d gone to the ER for my dad that day. He’d had a minor health scare, nothing life-threatening, but enough to get him admitted for observation. And while the doctor was explaining how Dad needed to retire, how his heart couldn’t take the stress anymore, I wasn’t listening.
Not really.
I was staring at the woman standing behind him.
Lorelie Hill. Even with her hair in a messy bun and circles under her eyes, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. No matter how much I tried, I could take my eyes off her.
And God, I felt like a terrible son for it. Who the hell checks out a doctor while his father’s in a hospital bed?
But we’d heard that speech a dozen times. Dad should’ve retired years before, but pride kept him in a job that was slowly killing him.
Still, there was something about that visit. Something about her.
Because for the first time, Dad finally agreed. Finally said he’d put in the paperwork.
I was so relieved I’d practically chased Lore down in the parking lot after her shift.
Not my smartest move, I startled her enough that she looked scared, but she was about to drive away, and I knew I couldn’t let her disappear out of my life.
I knew she was different. I knew she’d be it for me.
And now I can’t get the image out of my head.
While I was being praised for a job well done, while I was realizing Lore was the love of my life, she was in his bed. With him. Under him.
I shove my hands deeper into my pockets and keep walking, the night air biting at my skin.
