Page 3 of Fierce-Dane

He’d told Mel that.

“I’m sorry,” Mel said. “I just can’t do this up and down anymore. It’s not going to change. I thought I could accept it and realized I can’t do it.”

“So that’s it?” he asked. “You want to divorce?” This didn’t seem to be happening right now.

He wanted things to be very clear. He wasn’t going to assume a damn thing.

“I think it’s for the best,” she said. “At least to split and see how it works. I talked to my parents. I’m going to move in with them. You can stay in the house.”

He didn’t give a shit about those things. “The kids,” he said. “I’m not giving up my kids.”

“I know,” Mel said, sighing. “I think you care about them more than me.”

His jaw dropped. It was another fight they’d had. When he was home he paid more attention to them than her.

He thought she’d appreciate having the break and it just went to show how much of a contradiction his wife’s words were.

“They are children,” he said. “My children. I love them and I miss them as much as I miss you when I’m gone. Spending time with them is what a parent does. Not to mention giving you a break.”

“I’m not arguing any of that,” Mel said. “I’m just stating how I feel.”

“And you don’t care how I feel?” he asked. He blinked his eyes a few times. They weren’t wet like he’d thought they’dbe. His hands weren’t shaking anymore and his palms weren’t sweaty.

If anything, he was just numb.

“I’m sorry to say this. It’s not going to make a difference what you’re feeling. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to my parents tonight and staying there with the kids to give you time to process this. We can figure out the rest this weekend.”

“Seems to me like you’ve got it all planned out already,” he said. “What does it matter what I say?”

He turned and walked away from her, grabbed his keys that he’d tossed on the table not more than twenty minutes ago when she’d hit him with this as he’d walked in the door.

He needed to get drunk, but he knew he’d never do that.

Instead he went to talk to his family. They’d be upset and pissed, but they’d understand and be there for him.

He’d need them now more than ever as he tried to pick up the pieces of his life that he’d finally thought were glued together strong.

1

THE INTRUSIVE SIDE

Three Years Later

Dane had watchedhis baby sister marry Royce Kennedy a few hours ago. Now he was enjoying the reception while his two kids were running around and playing in their formal wear and having a ball.

If it brought back memories of his own wedding to Mel nine years ago, he pushed it off.

His ex and he were divorced and were co-parenting their two kids as well as anyone could have hoped for.

Sure, Mel had a boyfriend. Her second one since they’d divorced three years ago. He hadn’t been on more than four dates in that time. All setups that he hated, but he’d been pressured by others to give it a try.

The fact his sister was set up by her employers only made him roll his eyes.

But at least Chloe was happy and Royce was perfect for his sister.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to say that about anyone in terms of his own life. That he had the perfect person or could even find one.

He didn’t have any ill feelings toward marriage and relationships, just that he’d failed at his and still looked back to see what he could have done differently and realized there was nothing.

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