Her Last Name, His Claim

uquet at the library, but somehow the words still echoed in my

ly get Enzo off my back. I'd avoided calling Nathan all evening because I had no ide

rolled to Enzo's number, and hesitated for

was about to hang

lo l

ped. "No more dropping by the librar

o get what's mine,

eep saying that, but I don't ha

then in that de

u belong

t care for. "Stop living in the past, Enzo. Whatever

rong?" he asked, the amusement gone

moved on and you should too. Save us both this headache.

e had disconnected. Then he said softly, "A

again,"

u couldn't stay mad at me forever. You didn't date anyo

the fact that you kept tabs on me. That's creep

ive me a chance to make you see things differently. Meet

etter to get it over with. "Fine. B

ving the library. The place was alive, the clatter of plates and

s, looking all casual. He looked like someone who spent ha

d," he said as

me here for

ace unreadable. "You don't love him, E

yes. "You're

d. "But I know you. You still th

he times you conveniently forgot you had a wife. How you chose money over me, over ou

hing of myself, I could give you the life you deserved. I see now I was wrong, I

laughed softly. "You r

of the man I once loved, before it v

ard way then." He stood, dropped a few hundred dollar

I snapped, but he wa

lized the truth, Enzo wasn't

went straight to voicemail.

alk right now. I'

bad knowing Nathan was still ang

ing. My mind refused to settle. Enzo's voice echoed again and again

ng, but sleep

erything went wrong. Before pride. Before the bro

our wedd

us now that I t

ely rid

e. No roses on the bed or candlelit hotel suites. We we

that squeaked everytime we moved. The elderly owner gave u

o hard my cheeks hurt. But the moment we step

o couldn't figure out how to get the window open and

cool breeze rush in. Then he turned around and wh

was the only thing in t

hether to fall at my feet

said, pulling me

per of my dr

Right at the top,

nding far too confident for a man who

d, already sweating. "Y

se your hair

because you'

g else that I di

rd a rip. A

ed. "L

aid quickly. "Good

d. Which

ews, it

he bad

's ver

nearly fell. "Enzo! You

utely gorgeous laugh that used to me

ble," I said, try

" he replied, pulling me to hi

y as we pulled at each other's clothes. His hand

hispering, "Tell

red it back,

clumsy, perfect, beautif

aughing because th

paused, looked do

e going too hard? I thin

laugh too and then neither of us could breathe bec

ark every inch of me. His mouth traced my shoulder, m

we had all the t

ntertwined, his heartbeat slow and steady ag

a beautiful life, you

while...th

happy. S

late nigh

and deals and "jus

s trips" that laste

one that came home tired, distracted,

pulling me back into the present, into my dark

ad felt like

hest point of our marriage before

mething no o

mes love is