Page 83 of Hungry Hearts

MAIA:Already being taken care of. See you later.

Since I’m already close by, I drive out to Maia’s house. She’s been so busy lately I figure I’ll help pick up some of Ruby’s toys, run the vacuum over the carpet, clean out her fridge. She hasn’t given me a key to her house yet, but I know where she keeps the spare.

When I turn down her road, once again, I see Flynn’s car in her driveway.

“The fuck?” Leaving the groceries in the car, I storm to the front door. There’s no need to reach for the key above the door frame. It’s already unlocked.

I whip open the door and don’t see anyone in the living room. What I do see is a fucking pair of jeans and underwear on the stairs. I take two stairs at a time, stopping in the middle when I hear it.

The shower. Moans.

“M, you feel so good.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit. My muscles quiver as I clench and unclench my fists. Heat flushes through my body. My fingers twitch, ready to strike. A pounding in my ears roars as I take the final steps.

The bathroom door is partly open, and I see two figures in the steamy shower door.

“Bend over, M. Take my dick.”

No. It can’t be. She wouldn’t.

“We shouldn’t,” her voice is muffled from the shower.

Damn fucking straight you shouldn’t.

I watch as dark hair whips around and plasters to the shower door as another moan leaves her lips.

“That’s it, babe.”

I’m not a violent man, but right now I could kill.

Car issues. I’m going to be late.

Bull. Fucking. Shit.

Before my body can crumple, I rush down the stairs, pressing my hand against my breastbone in a fucking poor attempt to keep my heart in my chest.

A heart she shaped and grew into something I never thought possible, only to rip it out in my biggest fear.

The apple doesn’t fall far. I feel the pain I witnessed in my father when my mother had her affair. The lies. The promises that she was faithful. How he couldn’t fathom why she, a wife and mother, would look him in the eye and lie to his face.

The darkness that took over our entire family. The neglect of my father and his son. Even after reconciliation, it’s never been the same.

It can never be the same with Maia. There will be no forgiveness. I don’t trust easily—thanks, Mom—and I won’t be a slave to trying to put back together what will never be. It’s not fair to Ruby to walk away without saying goodbye, but it’s worse to stick around and bring darkness into her life.

I won’t repeat the mistakes of my father.

With shaking hands, I start my car and drive away.

And don’t look back. I never look back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

NOLAN NEVER COMES BACKinto the kitchen of Red, especially on a busy Saturday night. I’ve avoided any run-ins with the guys and their wives since finding Maia and that fucker in the shower and I’m not ready to face them yet.

I’m the master at hiding my feelings and making light of any situation, but this one is different, and if anyone can read through my disguise, it’s Nolan.

“Doc not paying you enough so you’ve come back here looking for a free meal?” I flick my wrist and the onion and mushroom merlot base I’m sauteing flips in the pan. “Kinda busy here, but help yourself to scraps in the back.”

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