Page 33 of Always Mine

His shoulders tensed. “How many times?”

“Four or five. And talked to him on the phone a few times.”

He sat back, the expression in his eyes wary. “What are you saying, Annie?”

“That I can’t marry you when I have feelings for another man.” She slipped off his ring. Put it on the desk.

He pushed it away. “No. I won’t accept this. I hate that you lied to me, but if you just stop seeing him, we’ll go on from there.”

“No, Seth. I can’t. I think I’m still in love with him.”

“What? You said you loveme.”

“I do but…I’m sorry.”

“I can’t believe this. I’m going to leave before I say anything I regret.” He grabbed the ring, bolted up and stalked out the door.

After Seth left, Annie felt like shit. So she changed into shorts and sneakers and went running again.

The sky was gloomy as her feet slapped on the pavement.You’re an awful person. You let yourself feel things for Diego. You hurt a good man.

Her eyes filled so she ran faster.

Faster.

Too fast.

Eventually pain shot through her side. She slowed. Then stopped and bent over her knees.

The sky opened up.

* * *

“Let’s go through all our exercises and then I’m adding a few.”

“You’re sadistic.” Diego and Jon, the physical therapist sat on a vinyl covered bench Diego had ordered for these exercises. Will put it together. “Now raise your arm over your head.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“See if you can do better today.”

He lifted his arm to his chest, then to his shoulder. It hurt like hell. “One more inch.”

Diego managed that.

After a rest, he did a table exercise. He set his arm on the flat surface and pushed it forward. Until it hurt. “Ouch.”

“Good, you went a bit further.”

Diego made grumbling noises.Dio Mio, you’re tough.

“Last one: lift your left arm across your chest and hold it with your right hand or arm under the elbow.”

Diego could do that one. Jon added a doorway stretch and neck release, which were new but not too challenging.

Afterward, Diego sank back into the chair, his arm muscles saturated. Jon got him water from the kitchen and sat with him till he recovered. Then he asked, “Want a shower today? My next appointment canceled so I’m free.”

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

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