After the Divorce: Ex-husband's Regret

rning light slipping through the curtains, dust float

the cool tile, heart hammering so loudly sh

leep. Too full of feeling. Three years. Som

leep. She could hear it-the faint rhythm of his breat

iled to

ppy Anniversary-then stepped back, tilting her head. Crooked suite

breath. Th

sho

! Babe

rough the apartment,

again, louder thi

crash from

ut rough, thick with sle

lip to keep f

oom door

ing and falling too fast. He was half-dressed, bare f

scanning her face, the room.

jum

annive

second, he

pped, a curse tearing out of him as his hear

los

her, loud and uncontrollable. "Oh my God,"

mall table set nearby with breakfast waiting-his favorite panc

and down his face. "Yo

unning," she said betwee

enaline drained out of him. He ex

e unbel

e," she teased,

t her for a

mself, a smile tu

e life out of m

sed her cheek to his chest. His heartbeat wa

d. "For every spider yo

le the back of her head automatically.

versary," he

eyes were soft now. Sleepy,

years,"

e," he

ing against hers like they'd always belonged there. A kiss wi

ted his forehead against hers. "

anted

want to," he

e point of loving s

real one, croo

nder the table, the television murmuring in th

d-one sugar, a splash of milk. He noti

nniversary she asked,

d. "The po

like we were in

u thought the candles mean

ed. "I was

always em

the table and flicke

. In the way she leaned in when she laughed, like she

Matthew stood, already g

ug. The quiet disappointment she'd

early again," s

p. "I have to. Mee

ng toward him. "You sai

will

t playful. Tried not to let the que

er then. Buttoning his sh

time for me lately

The truth, fina

nd looked at

va.

re in her oversized sweater. "I know you're busy. I know the company needs you. I

ce. Guilt, maybe, or anno

closer, to

ned. "This is temporary

lways s

be right," he sai

believe him.

e'll have dinner. Just us. No phones

brightened

eal

into him. "That's how

in, deeper this time. The kind of kiss that lingered. Tha

His watch. The familiar ritual

oor, he t

versary," he

issed him first this t

afe," she

lwa

teppe

r after the door closed, palm p

gainst the steering wheel, mind already half on w

d. He glanced at

ther

eyes flicking down

came out

l and

orld l

d t

akes as Matthew Taylor's car