Page 99 of After the Vows

“Good thing I’m not planning to fall in love.”

“What kind of cookies should we bake?” I ask Natalia once we’re in Lily’s car driving toward her house. “I love chocolate chip.”

“Oatmeal raisin are my favorite.”

“Gross. Raisins shouldn’t be in cookies.”

She giggles and I sag in relief. She’s not traumatized by what happened with her mom and dad. Still, I’m going to keep an eye on her. I won’t let this girl suffer the way I did because of a crappy mom. Not on my watch.

Chapter 32

Try – should involve some form of effort but usually doesn’t when an ex is involved

Lucas

Iwatch as Natalia and Chloe leave the house. I’m torn. I want to be with them. I want them with me. But I don’t want my daughter or my wife anywhere near Holly.

The contrast between Holly and Chloe couldn’t be more obvious. Holly stands here dressed in clothes meant for a country club I could never afford. And don’t want to. Meanwhile Chloe’s beautiful as ever in her jean shorts and t-shirt.

Their appearances aren’t the only difference between my past and my future. Holly is a complete bitch who didn’t bother pretending to want to spend time with her daughter. Whereas Chloe fought to keep Natalia safe.

“Finally.” Holly draws a sharpened nail down my arm. “We’re alone.”

I retreat a few steps. “Don’t touch me.”

She flutters her eyelashes. “You used to enjoy it when I touched you.”

“When I was twenty-three and didn’t know better.”

She flicks her hair over her shoulder. If the move was supposed to be sexy, she missed her mark. Her bleached hair stiff from all the product she uses, doesn’t appeal to me. I much prefer auburn hair wild from being loose in the wind.

“Don’t lie. We’ve had sex since then.”

Hardly. Once Natalia was born and Holly showed her true colors, my interest in sex with her vanished.

“We’re divorced, Holly,” I say instead of reminding her of how I turned down her advances again and again. No one enjoys being turned down but Holly was humiliated. I tried to soften the blow but there’s a limit to how nice I can be when I awake to a woman I don’t desire with her mouth around my cock.

“I want to try again.”

Try? I snort. She didn’t try the first time.

“Not interested.”

She bites her bottom lip. “I bet I can change your mind.”

She’d lose that bet. “I’m married, Holly, and I’m no cheater.”

“Are you insinuating I’m a cheater?”

“No need to insinuate. I walked in on you sucking his dick, remember?” I sure as hell wish I didn’t remember. The sight should have pushed me to divorce her. But I didn’t want Natalia growing up without a mother.

Since I’ve heard Chloe’s story, I realize how wrong I was. Having a mother who’s absent and has no interest in your life is worse than not having a mother.

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know why it’s such a big deal.”

“I told you this a million times already. Cheating is wrong. And I can’t be with a cheater.”

“I promise I won’t cheat again. It was a mistake. I’ve learned my lesson.”

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