“We both know you can’t do that.”

“Can’t I?” he challenges.

I swallow.

“If you don’t want my body anywhere near yours again after this night, I’ll respect that. I won’t give up trying to see my daughter, but I’ll respect you. But right now, I need to come and show you how fucking badly I’ve missed you. Now you either make that easy, or hard. Which is it going to be?”

His words both hurt and relieve me. I want him, but I want what’s best for my daughter more. If he promises to leave me alone and remove the pressure, then I might just be able to figure out something that works for all of us. But right now, Immy is safely tucked away sleeping at another house, and I’m here . . . desperate, body hot, wanting my husband.

I breathe the address into the phone before I can think twice about it.

He hands up before anything more can be spoken.

Shit.

What did I just sign myself up for?

CHAPTER NINE

THEN – MAX – COLLEGE

Where the hell is she?

Belle and I are meant to be going to the yearly college charity ball together, but she’s not here yet. Demi protested in big ways when she assumed I would still take her. Of course that shit wasn’t going to happen. It’s like suddenly it hit her, that I’m really not coming back. She stormed out of the cafeteria screeching about revenge. Instead, I asked Belle. God, her face lit up like the Fourth of July.

Now she’s not here.

Maybe she’s nervous? She didn’t want me to pick her up; instead she wanted to meet me at the entrance. It was her thing, so I didn’t argue even though I didn’t like it. I should have picked her up. Everyone has gone inside, but she’s still not here. I can hear the soft music coming out of the door. Something isn’t right, Belle isn’t the kind to stand someone up. Fuck, things have been amazing between us. She wouldn’t do this.

I pull out the phone from my tuxedo jacket and glance down at it. Nothing. Fuck. I stare around once more then I decide to check inside. Maybe she came from a different direction and is already in there? I punch out a message to her, and then I enter the massive hall. People are dancing, eating, chatting and laughing. It’s kind of like the prom all over again. I scan the room, and catch Reese with Emily.

I wave to him, and he gives me a confused look. It’s like he’s asking where Belle is. Yeah, I know she’s not here.

I shove through the crowd, and see Demi standing with a group of her minions near the punch table. I stride over, having a horrible feeling that she might have had something to do this with. Call it instinct. I stop when I’m in front of her and she glances at me, batting her eyelashes. “You look hot, Max.”

“Where the fuck is Belle?”

She gives me an innocent expression. “I have no idea.”

I step up close. “Don’t you fuck with me, Demi. Do you honestly believe that all this nasty shit will make me want you back? I don’t fucking want you, because you’re a sloppy, pathetic lay and a fucked up person.”

Her cheeks grow red and she spits, “What’s she got that I don’t?”

“A fucking soul. Now where is she?”

She shrugs, her face bitter. “I think she had an issue with her dress.”

Everyone around her chuckles, and my temper flares. “Where is she?” I roar.

She shrugs again.

I turn and charge towards the bathrooms and back entrance. I just bet Belle is in the bathrooms. Demi’s comment about her dress makes me feel sick. I find the female toilets and shove past the women in the line, who all screech at me. I push the door open and yell out, “Belle?”

Silence.

Then a sob.

I run towards the end stall and press my hands against the door. “Baby, you in there?”

“Go away, Max,” she whispers.

“No,” I say. “You open this door, or I’ll climb it.”

Silence.

Then the lock turns.

I push the door open and step in, glancing down at her. She’s got a beautiful, long, baby blue dress on. But it’s torn. Someone has ripped it, like a modern day Cinderella. She’s sitting on the toilet seat, mascara running down her cheeks.

“I’m never going to be enough,” she sobs.

“Stand up,” I rasp, extending my hand.

“I can’t go out like this. She wants me to suffer, Max. She’ll never leave me alone.”

“You’re wrong baby, and I’m about to prove it. Do you trust me?”

She looks up and her blue eyes study my face, before she reaches out and takes my hand. As she stands, I see there’s a large rip in the center of her dress, exposing her stomach. It makes her look hot, and I’m about to show Demi that she will never fucking win. I take Belle’s hand, pulling her out of the stall. Tatters of dress drag behind her, and her cheeks are red, but she follows me.

I ignore all the stares.

I lead her out into the main ballroom and straight up onto the stage. Everyone stops talking suddenly, and whispers spread out through the crowd. I take the microphone and step forward. “As many of you know, I’ve been seeing this beautiful girl behind me for a few months now. It appears my ex bitch can’t get it through her head, that I’m done with her ass. So, like the coward she is, she’s been torturing my woman. No longer. You all know me. You all know what I stand for. If you choose to support that ugly, cold-hearted woman, then you will no longer be apart of my world. Because this girl,” I pull Belle into my side. “Is every fucking thing to me, and the next person who bothers her, will answer to me personally. Now, I’m going to take her onto the dance floor, because even in tatters, she’s fifty times the fucking person than the selfish, ugly, cold hearted cow that did this to her.”

Demi’s face is bright red and people are glaring at her. She makes a huffing sound and storms out of the building, her minions trailing behind her.

I tug Belle’s hand and take her down the stairs and onto the dance floor. People make room for us. No one will make her feel like she doesn’t belong here. Never again. I put my hands on her hips and encourage hers around my neck. She’s staring around the room, her face red, her eyes panicked. I take her chin and make her meet my eyes.

“Don’t look at them, look only at me.”

“I look awful, Max. They’re staring.”

“Let them stare,” I say. “But I won’t let you be run out by a bitter cow who can’t stand that you have what she doesn’t.”

“I look...horrible,” she whispers, her eyes glistening.

“No, you look more beautiful than I’ve ever seen you. There’s never a time when you’ll ever be anything but beautiful to me, Blue Belle. Let them stare, let them think what they will, but my girl is getting this dance, because she deserves it.”

A tear trickles down her cheek. “What did I do to deserve you?”

I smile. “You were born, Blue Belle. That was the best gift ever presented to this world.”

She smiles. Beautiful. Real.

I think I just fell in love.

Fuck she looks so beautiful below me, her blue eyes staring up. I’ve been dating Belle for more than six months now, and it’s been fucking incredible. Every time her hands are on me, or mine are on her, it just seems fucking perfect. Tonight is the first time she’s letting me make love to her, and I’m glad to have waited. All the other girls I’ve been with just want a quick fuck, but Belle respected herself enough to wait.