My chest tightens at that.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
Because that broken muscle in my chest?
It never gave up on her.
Not once.
Not even when I tried to kill it.
Not even when I convinced myself she wasn’t worth it.
Even when I thought she was a lying cheat, I loved her.
And now—now there’s doubt.
Now, there’re questions.
Now, there’s the very real possibility that Paul—fuck, Paul.
“Goddamn it,” I snap, shoving off the tank.
Did he lie?
Did he set her up?
Did I just believe him?
The thought makes me feel sick.
Actually sick.
Because if that’s true?
If I threw away my marriage based on a lie—I don’t know how to come back from that.
I don’t know how to fix that.
I don’t even know if she’d let me try.
Footsteps echo behind me.
I turn to see Sawyer walking in, already dressed for the day, coffee in hand.
“Been up all night?” he asks, taking in the way I’m leaning against the tank like I need it to stay upright.
“Something like that.”
He nods once, not pushing.
That’s Sawyer.
He steps up beside me, glancing over the gauges out of habit.
“All good?” he asks.
“Yeah. Systems are holding.”
