Page 80 of The Edge Of Us

"He WHAT?!" Brittany gasped.

"He made an account?" I whispered.

"He doesn't even HAVE social media. The man uses email like a dad from 2002. He still double-spaces after periods."

I refreshed. Sure enough, his profile was brand new. One follower. One comment.

Me.

I didn't know if I should laugh or cry.

But I smiled.

God help me, I smiled.

I was so not ready for this.

And yet, maybe I was. Just a little. Just enough.

To be continued…

Chapter 45

Allen

I hadn't slept in days.

I told my therapist it was insomnia. I told myself it was stress. But the truth was simpler and uglier-I couldn't sleep knowing she was slipping away from me. Corinne. My wife-my ex-wife-the mother of my children. The love of my life.

And now, she was kissing another man. Jasper fucking Ashford.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I pulled into the driveway of her Montecito house. My jaw ached from how hard I was clenching it. I was supposed to be better than this. Therapy, journaling, meditation-whatever the hell my counselor suggested, I tried it. But the anger? The jealousy? It didn't go anywhere. Not when I saw Corinne's smile in those goddamn TikToks. Not when my daughter asked if Uncle Jasper would come over for pancakes again.

He was not their uncle. He was my replacement.

I stepped out of the car. My heart raced as I approached the front door, and for the first time in a long time, I felt nervous. Not the kind of nerves I used to get before a trial or a debate. This was personal. This was about her.

The door opened before I knocked.

"Hey," Corinne said, her voice soft. She wore travel pants and a loose sweater, her suitcase already by the door. She looked tired, but still beautiful. Always beautiful.

"Hey," I replied. My voice cracked. I swallowed it down.

Kyle ran up to me with a grin. "Daddy!"

I knelt, catching him in my arms. "Hey, bud. You ready for our big two weeks?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Can we go to the zoo again? Like last time?"

"Of course." I smiled.

Astrid toddled out behind him, her curls bouncing. "Dada!" she squealed.

My heart nearly stopped. I lifted her into my arms and kissed her forehead.

"They're packed," Corinne said. "Everything they need is in the green duffel. Snacks, books, medicines. Their iPads are charged."

"Thanks," I murmured.

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