years felt like a joke she'd been the last to get. His words still rattled through her head-two cold syl

side kept pounding the windows, wild and relentless, but the room around her felt so damn

ars, brushed away like dust on his sleeve. Lola watched him cr

ong, and started tending to her-careful, gentle. Everything about him softened. He tucked a blanket around Vanessa's legs, his expr

better?" he ask

rateful. "I'm fine. I was j

to her stomach. Nothing there. Empty. Just hours ago, there'd been hope. The

at. The room spun a little. She caught herself against the wall, fighting weakness in her

s. Daniel fit perfectly in this picture-a loyal man tending his lover's bedside.

believing in a love tha

tained glass, roses everywhere, that shimmer of excitement. Daniel waiting at the altar, tall and steady. H

ture together." She'd believed every word. Because Da

Lola let the m

the only question that mattered, even

nie

nessa went si

u ever

ted to know. She c

tion on his face. He set the so

re emotiona

n sound. How many times had she heard

bored. "You're askin

fists. "Then what

her opinion. Vanessa had this little smi

aid it. "I re

er chest go hollow. "T

"You were reliable. The house ra

on clouded as every shared breakfast and late-night conver

look, but Vanessa only hid her mouth behind delicate f

ragged. "When we stood at the altar

a beat. "I never

uestioned everything. Maybe she'd filled in the bl

fied. Lola caught the movement and finally, the truth dawne

hing but a whisper. "T

her and didn't bothe

nly a conve