You really love him?
The morning sunlight painted golden stripes across the dashboard as the car glided through downtown traffic. Dora watched the familiar buildings pass by, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her seatbelt. Two years. That's how long it had been since she'd made this commute feeling like this - light, hopeful, like her heart wasn't dragging an anchor behind it.
She stole a glance at Austin. The morning light softened the sharp angles of his face, catching on the dark stubble along his jaw. His hands looked massive on the steering wheel, those same hands that had held her so desperately last night. When he noticed her staring, the corner of his mouth lifted in that half-smile that used to make her knees weak. Still did, apparently.
"See something you like?" he murmured, reaching across to squeeze her thigh.
Dora felt heat rush to her cheeks but didn't pull away. "Just thinking how weird this is. Good weird," she added quickly when his smile faltered. "I didn't think we'd ever..."
"Me either." His thumb made slow circles on her leg. "I wake up expecting you to be gone. Like it was all a dream."
The raw honesty in his voice made her chest ache. This wasn't the Austin who'd coldly accused her of cheating, who'd looked at her with ice in his eyes. This man beside her - the one whose voice cracked when he talked about their baby, who'd sobbed into her hair at the hospital - she barely recognized him.
And yet, she did. This was the Austin she'd fallen for all those years ago, the one who'd brought her coffee in bed and memorized her favorite songs. The one who'd proposed on a rainy Tuesday because he "couldn't wait one more damn day."
The traffic light turned red. Austin used the stop to lean over, his lips brushing hers in a kiss so tender it hurt. Dora caught his face between her hands, prolonging the moment until a car horn startled them apart.
"Later," he promised, voice rough, adjusting the rearview mirror with unnecessary focus. Dora noticed the flush creeping up his neck and bit back a smile.
*********
The office building's revolving doors spat them out into the marble lobby, instantly transporting Dora back to a different life. The last time she'd walked these halls, she'd been collecting her things in a cardboard box, her wedding ring left on Austin's desk. Now here they were, his palm warm against the small of her back as they crossed the lobby together.
She felt eyes on them immediately. The security guard did a double-take. A group of junior associates by the elevators abruptly stopped talking. Dora straightened her shoulders, suddenly hyper-aware of Austin's possessive grip, the way his body angled slightly in front of hers like a shield.
Then she spotted Sienna by the reception desk, her best friend's manicured fingers frozen mid-air over her phone screen. Sienna's gaze flicked from Austin's hand on Dora's waist to the love bite peeking above Dora's collar, her eyebrows climbing toward her hairline.
"Well," Sienna drawled, snapping her phone shut with a click, "this is... unexpected."
Austin's fingers flexed against Dora's back. "Ms. Addison."
"Mr. Jess." Sienna's smile was all teeth. "Dora, darling, could I borrow you for a moment?"
Dora opened her mouth, but Austin spoke first. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of me."
Sienna's eyes glittered dangerously. "How modern of you. Unfortunately, this is a girls-only conversation." She hooked her arm through Dora's. "We'll be at the café. Try not to combust from separation anxiety."
*************
The café's ambient noise couldn't mask the tension at their corner table. Sienna stirred her latte with deliberate slowness before fixing Dora with a look that had made junior associates cry.
"Start talking."
Dora traced the rim of her teacup. "It's complicated."
"Uncomplicate it."
The story spilled out in fragments - the accident, the hospital, the way Austin had fallen apart when they thought they might lose the baby. Dora's voice caught describing how he'd clung to her afterward, his tears hot against her neck as he whispered apologies between kisses.
Sienna's expression remained unreadable until Dora mentioned moving back in. "You're living together again? After everything?"
"It's not like before! He's different now. I can feel it."
"Or he's just better at hiding the asshole." Sienna leaned forward. "Dora, this man made you think you were going crazy. He gaslit you about Daniel, manipulated you into that abortion—"
"I know what he did!" Dora's cup rattled in its saucer. She lowered her voice. "But people can change, Sienna. Haven't you ever wanted a second chance?"
Something flickered in Sienna's eyes before she sat back. "This isn't about me."
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the hiss of the espresso machine. Dora watched a barista artfully pour a heart into a cappuccino, remembering how Austin used to bring her coffee every morning, always with two sugars even though he took his black.
Sienna exhaled sharply. "You really love him."
"Always have."
"And you believe he's changed."
Dora met her friend's gaze squarely. "Yesterday, when the doctor mentioned possible complications, he looked... shattered, Sienna. Not because of the heir thing, but because it was me in that hospital bed."
Sienna studied her for a long moment before groaning. "God help me, I think you're right."
Relief flooded Dora's system. "So you're okay with this?"
"I didn't say that." Sienna pointed her spoon at Dora. "But I am your friend, which means if this is what you need... I'll stand by you. Even if I want to stab him with this butter knife."
Dora laughed wetly, reaching across to squeeze Sienna's hand. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Sienna's eyes dropped meaningfully to Dora's neck. "You might want to invest in some turtlenecks."
Dora's hands flew to her collar. "Oh God, is it that obvious?"
"Sweetheart, the entire security team saw your walk of shame." Sienna grinned as Dora groaned. "Speaking of which..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Details."
"Sienna!"
"What? A girl needs something to live vicariously through!"
Back at her old desk - miraculously untouched after all this time - Dora tried to focus on the quarterly reports Sienna had dumped in her inbox. But her attention kept drifting to Austin's office, visible through the glass walls.
He was on the phone, his free hand raking through his hair repeatedly. Even from here, she could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw worked. This wasn't work stress - this was something deeper.
Her stomach knotted. There were still so many unanswered questions between them. Why had he been so convinced she'd cheated? What had really happened with that abortion clinic? And why did his mother's name send his expression into lockdown?
A shadow fell across her desk. "Ms. Carter?"
Dora looked up to find Douglas standing there, his usual smirk absent. "Douglas. Hi."
His gaze flicked toward Austin's office. "I see old habits die hard."
Before she could respond, Sienna materialized beside them. "Douglas! Just the cockroach I wanted to see. Could you help me with something in the supply closet?"
Douglas's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Charming as ever, Sienna."
Dora watched them go, unease prickling down her spine. She turned back to Austin's office just in time to see him slam his phone down, his face a mask of fury.
Whatever peace they'd found this morning - whatever fragile hope they'd built - she suddenly feared it wouldn't survive the secrets still lurking in the shadows.
And judging by the dark figure watching them from the parking garage security feed, those shadows were closer than she thought.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
