“We found out I can’t have children.”
“Wait. What? You can’t have children?”
“No.”
“But…how? Why not?”
“I have a condition called premature ovarian failure.”
Anise’s eyes welled up. “Are you sick?”
“No. I just can’t conceive. Tommy couldn’t deal with it, so he left. I couldn’t bear to tell you, not with everything going on between you and Roman.”
“Oh, honey.” Anise flew to her, so Alex got up from his seat and let her sit next to her sister. “I’m so sorry.”
As the sisters embraced, he perched on the armrest of the other couch. He licked his lips, amazed that Dana’s taste and scent still lingered all around him. She’d been trying so hard to warn him away when all he wanted was to keep her at his side. Now that he understood why, he wanted to keep her even closer.
He was an idiot. To think he’d attributed her sorrow to losing Tommy when she’d lost so much more than that. And yet it was Tommy’s rejection that shaped the way she viewed herself. He’d made her feel like damaged goods.
Alex wanted to damage Tommy. He wanted to pulverize him.
In a moment of weakness, when Dana had fallen asleep in the early hours, Alex had pulled out his cellphone. He’d sought out Dana’s Facebook profile. The search had left a pit in his gut. She hadn’t updated her profile in months and her status was still listed as “Engaged.” Her page was littered with pictures of her and Tommy.
Although Alex had taken perverse delight in picturing Dana’s ex as an ogre, the truth was quite the opposite. Tommy Parker was a handsome white man with a shaved head and a twinkle in his eye. In every photo, he was either kissing Dana or had his arms around her. There were images of them hiking together, biking together, going on a trip to Amsterdam together. They had a history, one full of laughs and funny faces and little heart emojis.
It had sickened Alex and he hated himself for feeling that way, especially because if the photos were to be believed, Tommy looked like a good guy. The sort any man would want as a friend.
But that didn’t change the way Alex felt. He hated Tommy for hurting her, for thinking she was anything less than perfect.
The woman in those Facebook photos didn’t resemble the woman sitting in front of him. Dana’s shoulders were hunched. Her skin was pale. Her voice was soft and low as she spoke to Anise.
Alex’s ribs scraped against the pulsing organ housed inside them.
He wanted to be better than Tommy.
He wanted to be better for Dana.
“I can’t believe it,” said Anise. “I hate what Tommy did to you, but are you sure you can’t salvage what you had?”
“I’m sure.”
“Why should she even try?” Alex couldn’t help putting his two cents in. “Tommy had his chance. He blew it.”
Anise ignored him. “He loves you, Dana. You know he does. He just made a mistake.”
“Right,” replied Dana. “And I bet if I asked Roman, he would say he still loves you too.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Tommy betrayed me. He might not have done it with his dick, but he still did it.”
“He was hurting. He overreacted. I’m sure this is hard, but you have options. You can adopt.”
“Tommy wasn’t even interested in discussing that option.”
“I just think you’re being hasty. If your relationship can still be repaired, you should give it everything you’ve got. Trust me.”
“My relationship can’t be repaired.” Dana threw up her hands. “Ican’t be repaired! Don’t you get it?”
