Chapter 66

Amber’s POV

The pizza delivery person arrived soon after I – well, Alice – invited Julian inside. Before long, we were sitting around the kitchen table, eating pizza and talking.

Alice was telling Julian everything he missed since we last saw him, seemingly in one big breath.

Julian, to his credit, was paying rapt attention, nodding at the appropriate intervals, and even asking questions when there were brief openings, about Alice’s school and about her friends.

I was glad the two were enraptured in each other’s conversation and not looking for me for much input, because my mind was running a thousand miles a minute, still going over everything Julian revealed.

I still didn’t have much proof that he was telling the truth… All of this could be some kind of ploy to get me to lower my defenses so that he could more easily steal Alice away.

“You are looking for reasons to be fearful and angry,” my wolf said in my mind, scolding me. “He has given you no indication he intends to steal Alice…”

“I trusted him in the past, and he made another woman pregnant,” I replied, also in my mind. My wolf wasn’t there then, she didn’t remember the hurt of those moments, or the ones that followed, when Julian pushed me away rather than explain things to me.

Even now, I still didn’t fully understand what had happened. Our marriage hadn’t been perfect, certainly, but I thought, at least, that we had always tended to each other’s sexual needs. Our bedroom had often times been explosive, and always thoroughly enjoyable.

Of all the things we failed at being married, our sex life was not one of them.

At least, that had been what I thought. Yet it hadn’t been enough to keep him from running off and having a one-night stand with Olivia.

A phantom hurt cut into me, a reminder of the pains of the past.

My wolf fell silent. I still felt her disapproval, but it was somewhat muted now.

Protecting myself and Alice was paramount in my life now. The time for love had come and gone. With Alice depending on me, I couldn’t afford to be foolish. I couldn’t let myself fall back under Julian’s charms.

Julian said something then, that I didn’t really catch as I was so lost in my thoughts. Whatever it was, he said it with a grin, and it made Alice laugh and laugh. Julian, watching her, seemed delighted at her reaction.

My heart warmed, as much as I tried to keep it cool. And despite myself, a bit of longing welled up from the deepest parts of me.

Like this, sitting around the table, eating and laughing…

This felt like family. A small, imperfect family, but a family nonetheless.

And I hated how much it was everything I ever wanted, the life I had always wanted with Julian, when I cradled the small spark of hope during the harsher moments of our marriage.

Someday, I had always thought back then.

Now, I had it right in front of me. Or… no, I didn’t fully have this, did I? This was all still a shadow. Maybe, if Julian was being genuine, it could be real. Or maybe, if he wasn’t, this would all vanish and I would be heartbroken again. And Alice? Gods, if he wasn’t genuine, she would be devastated.

Yet, before worry or misery could pull me under, Alice spoke up, mischievous eyes turning on me. “Don’t you think Mom is pretty, Dad?”

I blanched, my gaze drawn to Julian like it was out of my control.

He seemed surprised by the question too. I didn’t hear what they had been talking about, but it likely wasn’t this. Alice must be up to something, changing the subject like this.

Yet, rather than lightly scold her, or steer the conversation elsewhere, I was utterly enthralled with Julian, awaiting his response.

His surprise cleared quickly, as he looked back at me. His features took on a warmth. His eyes softening, his lips straight yet giving the hint of a smile, like one was soon on the way.

“She’s beautiful, Alice,” he said, though I barely heard him over the loud thumping of my heart.

Though my cheeks had drained of color only a moment ago, I felt the heat returning to them now like a flash, so quickly I felt a little light-headed.

All I could think to do was say, “Thank you.” I forced my gaze away, worried that if I continued to look at him, I wouldn’t want to stop.

“My pleasure,” Julian said. Then shifted, returning his attention to Alice. “Alice, tell me again about this grumpy teacher of yours… What was her name?”

“Ms. Crabapple!” Alice said and giggled, thoroughly distracted now from whatever game she’d been playing with Julian and me.

The rest of the meal went well enough, with Julian and Alice doing most of the talking. I chimed in now and then, but was more compelled to simply watch.

When it finally came time for Alice to go to bed, and I told Julian he had to leave, my heart was sore and my emotions exhausted from the ringer this situation had been putting them through tonight.

Alice hugged Julian goodbye, then hurried off to brush her teeth. With her getting ready for bed, I ushered Julian to the door.

Julian’s POV

This night had gone perfectly. I was bonding with Alice, and reconnecting with Amber. I had made Alice laugh, and Amber blush.

And now, as Amber was seeing me out, I was already thinking of ways I could come back. I decided on the most straightforward.

“I had a great time tonight,” I said, once I was outside.

Amber stayed in the doorway. She held the door with both hands, as if ready to close it on me if she needed to. With her using it like a shield, I guessed a kiss goodnight was out of the question. That was fine. With Amber, I had patience. If it meant I could eventually win her heart back, I would wait forever.

Forgoing the goodnight kiss, I instead focused on my question. “Can we do this again sometime?”

Amber hesitated for longer than I would have liked, but eventually, after much consideration, she said, “Okay. But not all the time.”

I’d take it. Frankly, I’d take whatever I could get. I knew things would be difficult, so I was thrilled that Olivia’s lies hadn’t totally ruined things.

“Goodnight, Amber,” I said.

“Goodnight,” she replied and closed the door.

I had a spring in my step as I walked back to the car.

Later, at the hotel as I slipped into bed, I did so with a smile, hopeful for the steps I’d been able to move forward tonight.

Soon, I’d win back my wife and have a family.

I closed my eyes with a smile.

The roar of a car engine jolted me awake. I sat upright, fingers curled like claws, wolf alert, ready to fight. When I heard the noise again, and recognized what it was, I realized it was just some jerk revving his engine in the parking lot.

Forcing myself back down, I tried to close my eyes again. It took some time to find sleep once more.

Olivia’s POV

Olivia had stayed up waiting, annoyed at how late he was. But the minute she heard that engine roar, she knew it was him. That cocky bastard always liked to make an entrance.

Still, she waited for him to come to her door and knock before she bothered standing up, crossing the room, and opening it.

“Chase,” she said, not allowing any pleasure to show at the sight of him. He had enough ego that the room was already stuffy just with his presence. She couldn’t help herself from dragging her eyes down his body though.

Chase was in his early twenties, dressed head to toe in tight designer clothing. He worked out regularly, giving him a toned stature that he liked to flaunt. Tight leather pants. A button-up shirt with half the buttons undone.

His blonde hair was permanently tussled, his overpriced hair stylist made sure of that.

He grinned wickedly at Olivia as he leaned heavily on the doorframe, allowing her to look her fill.

“Miss me, love?”

“No,” Olivia said stubbornly.

His grin widened as he stepped into her. He didn’t reply with words, instead, claiming her mouth with his own, kissing her deeply and passionately.

Following Olivia further into the hotel room, he kicked the door closed behind him.