I didn’t know when I would tell her the truth. Or what good it would do.

All I knew was that I wanted to be with her tonight.

And she had asked me to stay.

Chapter Fourteen

Paisley

There were only so many times I could look at myself in the mirror and call my choices a mistake before I realized I had to own up to them. Which probably wasn’t the best way to start my morning, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what else there was to do.

I’d gone and fallen back in love with my ex-husband and there was no denying what was happening. Even if this whole thing exploded and there was nothing left for us but the remains of who we’d once been, I’d still have these feelings.

And the honest part of myself that was getting harder to ignore as time moved on knew that I’d always been in love with him. Because there were reasons why I felt as if part of me broke day by day as I tried to catch up with who I had once been. I had been looking for August in all the interactions I had with others without realizing it.

I’d married the wrong man because I’d thought I’d needed that love.

And I’d married the right man at the wrong time because I’d thought that love was all I’d needed.

And as I sat here in front of the vanity mirror in the hotel suite, I couldn’t help but realize that life was imitating art, or perhaps it was history itself.

After all, I had become his parents. August was running away from that, and for good reason. But I was the example.

Divorced twice, married twice, and lost beyond all recognition.

Because he was the love of my life.

And I knew if things went the way that history tended to, I would be left in the cold after mistake after mistake. And it would be all my fault.

It would be easier if I walked away now and didn’t let myself get hurt. Only that’s not how things went.

It couldn’t be.

Not when I knew that even if we walked away now and just became friends, it was still going to hurt. Because I was beyond in love with this man. So there would be no protecting myself in the end.

There couldn’t be.

“Knock, knock.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw the man in question staring at me.

He had on gray suit pants and a white button-down. He looked gorgeous, all sleek, and strong.

I loved him. And I kept repeating that to myself because I knew if I didn’t, I would run away out of fear.

But maybe, fighting for something stronger than myself and my own fear was the important part.

After all, I still didn’t know why he had walked away in the first place. And I was so afraid to ask because if I did, maybe he would walk away again. Or maybe I would realize that it was my turn.

But I pushed those thoughts from my mind, as I needed to focus on what was in front of me.

“I thought you said you were getting ready?” I asked, in my most prim tone.

He just raised a brow, before leaning against the doorway. When he folded his hands over his chest, his forearms looking hot as hell, I nearly swallowed my tongue.

There was just something far too sexy about a man leaning in a doorway and looking far too casual.

“I just have to put on my tie and suit jacket. I’m ready to go. What about you?”