The desire for revenge boils under my skin. I’m hot, edgy, and unsatisfied. Vengeance is now so close I can taste it in the air.
If circumstances had been different, if you’d followed what you were supposed to do . . . maybe I could have made this easier on you. But there’s no going back now. I’ll see to it that you suffer.
You ruined what I once held dear. Ruined everything I built for myself. And now you’re going to pay. I’m almost giddy with excitement, picturing your face as you realize what’s happening.
Zipping up the duffel bag, I check my phone again. Now it’s time. Time for you to pay.
Chapter Eighteen
Nolan
I had to end my old life before I could begin my new one. Of course, knowing that didn’t make the task any easier. I waited for two days to break the bad news to Daniella, with the excuse that she had back-to-back nursing shifts and I wanted her full, well-rested attention. I used the time to rehearse my words over and over. But there was no painless way to tell someone you weren’t compatible.
The moment came when I got home from work that evening. Sutton was snoring on his favorite armchair, sprawled out like a pudgy beanbag, and Daniella was reading on the couch. She had almost finished the sci-fi novel she’d started a few short weeks ago.
Back then, I had thought that nothing could disrupt our safe, sterile peace. Everything had changed so fast, fallen so completely out of balance. Even if I could bring myself to abandon Lacey now, life with Daniella would never be quite the same.
There was no longer any doubt in my mind about what I wanted. As much as I dreaded this conversation, as much as it would hurt Daniella, I knew that staying in denial would hurt all three of us even more.
Daniella tensed at the sound of my footsteps. As if my nearness hurt her, as if she knew what was coming. But there was no other way. All I could do was make the cut as quick and clean as possible.
“Hey,” I called out, as if she didn’t already know I was home. “How are you?”
She dropped her book on her chest to look at me. “My day was okay. Sutton was acting crazy earlier, running around and barking at nothing.”
“Sutton, running? Are we talking about the same lazy asshole here?” My laugh fell painfully flat.
Daniella shrugged. “I saw him do it. Maybe he thought something was happening outside.”
I crossed the room and sat down on the chair’s arm. “So, there’s, um . . .” Why couldn’t I make my mouth work? I tried again. “I have to tell you something.”
She blinked slowly. “It’s about Lacey, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” I wondered if she knew what was coming, but I pushed on anyway. “I never intended for this to happen.” Damn it, Nolan, just get it out. “Things have . . . changed.”
She nodded sadly in acknowledgment, waiting for me to continue. But the words stuck in my throat, leaving us in awkward silence for several seconds. Our perfect little bubble had popped, despite our best efforts.
“Do you love me?” she finally asked, her voice whisper soft.
I hesitated, just long enough for the seeds of doubt to grow. “Of course I do.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s okay. I want the truth.”
My throat tightened, and I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t look her in the eye and say the words I knew would crush her. God, this was excruciating. I took a deep breath.
“Then go to her.” She wiped the tear away with the back of her hand. “Give her everything.”
I had expected shock and confusion, anger and fear, all gushing out in a big, ugly explosion. But Daniella’s hazel eyes held only weary resignation. I had never seen her look so purely sad.
Finally, she put her book aside and sat up. “I figured it would turn out this way.”
Say what? I stammered, “You . . . did?”
Daniella sighed. It was an empty sound. “Earlier today, Lacey came by to talk. She told me everything.” She wet her lips. “I realized that you’re . . . in love with her. Like, for real. So I’m glad you’re not letting me get in the way of that.”
I fought through my surprise, trying to process everything she had just said. Deep in the back of my mind, I felt a faint, shameful gratitude that Lacey had laid some of the groundwork for me. But mostly I just felt like shit. It was bad enough that I was cutting off Daniella—but she had to hear the news from the very woman who’d stolen my heart?
She forged ahead through my conflicted silence. “You’re a good man. You’ve done so much for me. I just want you to be happy, and if Lacey makes you happy, then I understand.”