Page 36 of Ciaran

Her eyes widen, and she nervously slides her fingers beneath the collar of her jacket as though it’s choking her. “Oh. Um. I thought that might have upset you.”

I cradle her chin, tilting her face up to mine. “It didn’t upset me, but it did confuse me. I’m not sure what you meant by it.”

She expels a soft sigh through her nose, her teeth nibbling inside her cheek. “Honestly, I don’t know. I guess I saw something in you. A warmth or tenderness maybe. Apart from my parents, I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at like that in my whole life. And with what I’ve gone through with Tanner…” She tugs her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger, drawing my eyes to her mouth. “Like that. You’re doing it again. I guess I just needed to feel…like someone saw me. Not Tanner’s downtrodden wife. Me.”

My heart stutters, a staccato beat that steals my breath. I raise a hand to her face and run my knuckles over her cheek.

“I see you.”

Before Millie can respond, someone grabs me by the shoulder and yanks me to my feet.

“Don’t touch what you don’t fucking own.”

I regain my balance and face Tanner, fury racing through me, and not because this fucker dared to put his filthy hands on me, but because he said own in relation to Millie.

“Are you following us?” I accuse, working my jaw in a tight circle. I clench my fists, ready to break his nose if the opportunity arises. Go on. Make a move. Give me a reason.

Millie leaps to her feet. “Ciaran, don’t.” She takes hold of my arm. “I don’t want you to lay a finger on him.”

She puts her body between us. She fucking stands between us. Her hand is pressing my chest, her eyes pleading with me to leave it, walk away, play peacemaker. It’s a role I’m proficient in, but it’s not a fair ask. I’ve never had to play peacemaker with the abusive ex of the woman I’ve been obsessed with since high school.

“What do you want, Tanner?” she asks, turning away from me.

“I want you back.”

I grind my teeth, moving to the side, readying myself for action the moment Millie needs me. Fuck, I’d give anything to wipe the smug grin off this bastard’s face.

“Why?”

My eyes widen. I hadn’t expected her to ask that question.

“Because I love you. Because I know I’ve not been the best husband. Because I want a second chance to make it all right.”

That does it. I can’t keep quiet a second longer. “You don’t love her. Love isn’t abuse, control, or ownership. It’s kindness and compassion and caring for someone more than yourself.”

“Ciaran, please.” Millie touches my arm again and gives a slight shake of her head.

The fuck is going on here?

“Don’t tell me you’re considering listening to his bullshit?”

“I’m sorry,” Tanner says, playing the contrite card to perfection. “He’s right. I haven’t loved you the way you deserved, or taken care of you, or treasured you. But when you left me, it woke me up. I’ll do anything to get you back. Anything. Please just give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“You hurt me, Tanner. Over and over. You chipped away at my self-esteem until I was barely a shadow of the girl you married. You said terrible, hateful things. You made me fear you. Ciaran’s right. That’s not love.”

“Baby, I’m sorry.” The little shit catches her hand and holds it over his heart—and she lets him. “We had some good times, Millie. Some great times. I know we can have that again. I’ve been stressed, that’s all. You know how difficult it’s been for me to stand on the sidelines and watch all those young players live my dream. To have everything I’d worked years for snatched away. Please, baby. I’m only asking for a chance to talk. We’ve given each other ten years. Can’t you give me one more hour?”

A bolt of fear races through me when she bows her head. Chilled to the bone, despite the heat of the late summer day, I know what’s about to happen. She’s going back to Tanner. I can see it in the curve of her shoulders, the lack of eye contact, the staring down at her feet.

“Okay, let’s talk,” she says, her tone defeated.

Tanner flashes a triumphant smirk at me and throws his arm around Millie’s shoulder, which, by the way, she doesn’t shake off. As they walk away, she glances over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” she mouths before she leaves me.

Again.

Chapter 14

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