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“I tried so hard, because that’s what you do. Or that’s what I felt it was important to do, anyway, even though I fell out of love with him a long time ago.” Her eyes fill with tears at the admission.

Oh God, I thought she still loved him. I thought she still wanted him back.

He’ll always be Millie’s dad, and he should be there for his daughter. But at the expense of Vix’s happiness? How can that be right?

“But it didn’t work,” Vix continues. “He didn’t want me. He said… I made him feel guilty.”

“About what?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I reminded him how he used to be, maybe. I think he needed to get away from here and have a fresh start. Reset, and begin again. He’s got a part-time job now, and I’m not sure, but I think he’s seeing someone.”

“Really?”

“He texted to apologise for not calling last night and said he was out and lost track of time.”

“He could have been out with mates, or his brother.”

“Yes,” she says calmly, “that could be the case. But the text said, Sorry I didn’t call. I got caught up talking.”

I frown. “Talking?” That’s not a Jayden comment.

“Exactly. Not drinking. Not watching the rugby. Not out with the boys. Talking.” She looks away, takes a deep breath, and lets it out. “What I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t matter. We’re done, and we both know it. I’m not secretly hoping he’ll come back, even for Millie. It’s over.”

She looks back at me, and we study each other, while nearby the leaves rustle in the pōhutukawa trees, and a fantail jumps along the balustrade.

“I can’t stay,” I say gently.

“I know.” She doesn’t look upset. Instead, her gaze drops to my mouth again. “Not everything has to end in forever.”

My eyebrows lift. Whoa…

“I can’t believe I said that,” she admits, her cheeks flushing. “Have I shocked you?”

“A little,” I admit, somewhat hoarsely.

“I shocked myself too.” But her eyes are full of longing. “I dream about you, Mitch,” she says softly, resting a hand on my chest. “About kissing you. Do you ever dream about me?”

I look into her big brown eyes. “Every night.” My voice is a whisper.

Her lips part, and I look at them. I’m breathing heavily now. Trying to hold back is taking as much effort as holding on to a bolting horse.

“I’m trying to keep to my principles,” I say weakly.

“Fuck principles,” she says, and lifts her face so her lips are only a centimetre from mine.

“Yeah, fuck ’em.” I lower my head and, after six long years of yearning, I finally touch my lips to hers.

Ohhh… her mouth is soft, and her lips are warm and dry. I kiss her once. Then a longer second time.

The third time, when I tease her bottom lip with my tongue, she opens her mouth, allowing me to slide my tongue against hers. Heat fires between us, and she gives a sexy moan low in her throat as I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her against me.

I tilt my head, and she slides her hand up to my face, and then into my hair. I’m filthy and sweaty, and I groan at the thought of it, but she clenches her fingers in the short strands and leans into the kiss, and I’m powerless to stop her.

“Hello?”

We leap apart as the voice sounds from behind us. My head is spinning, and I run a hand through my hair. “Out here.”

A young lad comes up the stairs into the living room and turns and sees us. “Oh, hey. I’m Leo. Bear sent me over.”