Page 49 of Forgotten Pieces

My heart sinks a little at that. Although I didn’t want to be the one that caused her such heartache, I did hope I was the one that showed her what love really is.

“He promised me so many things. He was a producer. I was naïve. I never should have trusted him. But it was so good at the beginning. We were hopelessly in love. It was passionate and real and I felt like I met the one. He was so supportive of my career. He got me auditions but never held his name to them so it felt like I earned them. I was so close, Ryder. So close to my dreams. Everything that you told me I could be. I did it. I flew just like you said.”

I am proud of her for doing it, for spreading her wings for that dream. I know a but is coming though so I take her hand and squeeze.

“Then I got an audition on my own one day. A big name on Broadway saw me perform at a bar. Told me to come and audition for a new production. So I did. How could I not? And I killed it. I nailed every part of my audition. I got a call the next day saying they wanted me in a supporting role. I wish you could have seen me Ryder. I wish you could have seen how happy I was that day.” She takes a deep breath and looks away from me, back to the lake. “But Cole wasn’t happy. He accused me of cheating on him. He thought I slept with a producer to get the role. I didn’t know where it came from because I had been so loyal to him. So I made the stupidest decision. I turned down the role because he threatened to break up with me. I gave up everything I ever wanted for a man. I ruined any chance of getting a role after that. All for a man that ended up breaking my heart.”

“What happened?” I ask.

She turns back to me. “Maybe another time. I don’t think I can share anymore. That’s the most I’ve shared in a while.”

I pull her close to me. “Do you feel better?”

“A little,” she mumbles into my chest.

“I’m proud of you, T. You did what you set out to do. I know it didn’t work out and someone broke your heart. But don’t forget that you didn’t fail.”

She wraps her arms around me tighter. Her face buried in my chest as she lets her tears out. She lifts her head after a while looking up at me. “You know it’s been a while since someone said that to me.”

“Said what?”

“That they were proud of me.”

I let out a deep breath as I look down into her eyes, my gaze traveling to her lips. Her body is warm against mine and the feeling spreading through my body is a feeling I haven’t felt in years. I want to kiss her. I want us to make up for lost time, to remember everything we used to have.

But I can’t.

Because I am engaged to a woman.

A woman who doesn’t look at me like she would go to the ends of the Earth to keep me.

I pull away from her, needing to give us some distance. That spark we had when we were younger, the one I thought disappeared, is still there. I can feel it growing into a flame. But fire is dangerous and we need to put this one out. “You’ll find it again someday. And the next time, he won’t hurt you.”

She picks at the blanket between us and sighs. “I hope you’re right.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, taking in the serenity of our secret space. Until we start to hear the laughing of teenagers in the near distance. The signal it’s time to leave. I help her fold the blanket and hand it to her as we walk back down the path to our cars.

“Thanks for tonight. I didn’t know I needed it.”

“I’m here whenever you do.”

“And what about you?” she asks, nudging my arm with her shoulder. “You have a lot on your mind too.”

“Next time,” I answer as we reach her car.

She wraps her arms around me and I return the gesture. I can’t help but kiss the top of her head before letting her go. She gives me a shy smile as I reach around and open her door for her.

“See you soon, Ry.”

“Soon,” I say back as I shut her door and watch her drive away.

* * *

I wake up early the next morning to make coffee and breakfast. It’s moving day and I know if there isn’t coffee and breakfast waiting for Mac he will be pissed. I roll over in bed expecting Shelley to still be asleep but she isn’t there.

I head to the kitchen and find her on the phone, her laptop open in front of her. She was supposed to be off today.

This is our big move. Owning a home.

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