The Accidental Husband

d Olivia as she moved around the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune while making coffee. Every little

was wearing one of his old t-shirts, a sight that used to make h

d the way her eyes didn't quite meet his, the sl

Alex Reed?" he asked, trying to sound casu

t if he wasn't looking for it. "Oh, Alex? Just a friend from back home. Why

Liam said, watching her reflection in the mic

d, her voice a little too high-pitched. "We've

he messages. He knew exactly what kind of "brother" Alex was t

n and opened her laptop. It was a breach of privacy, a line he never thought he'd c

dinners, trips they had taken. It was the perfect picture of a happy couple. But then he

inside jokes, and posts counting down the days to his birthday. One post from a few weeks ago stood out. It was a picture of a single, pe

t was on her secret account dedicated to Alex. She was celebrating an anniversary with another man, while living with him. The

er that he had missed everything. He had believed her "I love yous," cherished her smiles,

d, holding up a new dress. "What do you think? For

t had slipped his mind. The realization hit him hard. Just yesterday, he would have been racked with guilt fo

birthday. She was counting down the seconds to it. His own forgotten birthday seemed to pe

is voice empty of the e

pouted. "I though

tion he had made weeks ago at her favorite restaurant, the expensive necklace he had hidden in his

foolishness. All that effort, all that love, was for

He would not return the necklace. But he wouldn't be giving them to her either. He was done making an effort. He was done trying to ple