Page 70 of L.O.V.E

“How are you feeling?” I asked, bending to taste her mouth.

Morning sickness had stifled the “making up” part of our making up. We’d come close a couple of times, but then she’d make a mad dash to the bathroom, and the romance had fizzled.

She turned her head and laughed. “Don’t smudge my lipstick.”

I kissed her anyway. She let me. A chaste exchange.

“I can’t wait to get you alone,” I whispered in her ear.

She lifted her chin, bringing our mouths a breath apart. “Do you forgive me, Cole?”

“For what?”

“For walking out on you.” She lifted a delicate finger to wipe the color from my lip. “For the person I was back then. The things I did to Natalie.”

Truth be told, I’d been disgusted when she’d admitted the depth and depravity of her past obsession with Natalie. The bullying. Especially the bullying. A gnawing ache settled in my gut. Like Natalie, I’d been on the shit end of that scenario. Coming to terms with Vic’s transgressions would pose a challenge. And still, when I looked at my wife, I couldn’t see that girl full of hate, hurt, and evil intent. I only saw the woman with the big heart who loved her family, fiercely protected her friendships, and gave her free time to children’s charities.

Before I could answer her question, she looked around the room, then asked, “Where’s Martin? He was sloshed. Should we keep an eye on him? I don’t want him to ruin our night.”

“I think he’s pouting over Natalie. He hasn’t been the same since they broke up.” Natalie’s name tasted too damn sweet, but I tamped that shit down deep, hardening those feelings to lifeless, colorless clay. “Ellis has it handled.”

Victoria’s cheeks reddened. “You think Martin still has a thing for her?”

“I don’t want to talk about them. This is our day.” I stole another kiss and twirled my bride through the crowd. The DJ announced a break. I escorted Victoria to our table. The evening moved on. We laughed and mingled. Guests dwindled. Martin never returned.

Victoria excused herself to the restroom. She returned smelling of cigarettes, igniting our first fight as a married couple.

Before the reception ended, Victoria had canceled the honeymoon.

“What did you find out?”

I swung the door wider, allowing my friend, Detective Waters inside.

Dark bags nested his sullen gaze. “You need to have a seat, Cole.”

“I’ll stand.” Arms crossed, I braced for what was sure to be bad news. “You found her?”

Waters scrubbed a hand over his face. “If you don’t wanna sit, can I?”

Fuck.

The sofa was a mere ten steps away. My legs grew heavier with each lift and drop, but I managed to sit, and Waters followed suit.

“Martin’s car was found at the bottom of a cliff in Monterey County a couple hours ago.”

“California?” I asked.

Staring at the floor, he nodded.

“What does Martin have to do with my missing wife?” Victoria had lied about a weekend trip with her girlfriends while Martin had ghosted days after the wedding. I hadn’t seen or heard from him in the two weeks since.

He nodded. Swallowed. Gave me a hard look.

“No. Don’t say it.”

Again he nodded, his jaw tensing before he forced the words through gritted teeth. “Martin’s body washed up on shore about a half mile down. They recovered Vic’s ID and a suitcase full of women’s clothing. Her body hasn’t been found, but that’s not uncommon in these types of accidents.”

The room blurred. Truths speared my chest, razor-sharp puzzle pieces slicing me wide open. Vic and Martin.

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