Page 135 of My Only

I exhaled sharply, then locked eyes with Harper.

“You never asked me about Ayla.”

Her brows furrowed.

“And now, I see why.” A humorless laugh left my chest.

“If you’d taken the time to ask me about her—instead of plotting against her—you’d know she’s a phenomenal woman.”

I leaned forward, voice steady.

“A woman who has been through hell and back—but never let it change her for the worse.”

A pause.

“A woman who doesn’t look anything like what she’s been through.”

Harper stilled.

“You would have known that I’ve known Ayla since we were fourteen years old. That we started as just friends. Only friends.”

I swallowed hard. My chest burned.

“And our bond—our love—only grew stronger after she lost her father on September 11th, when he didn’t make it home from his job in the North Tower.”

Harper gasped. Loud. Eyes wide.

“Yeah.” I gritted my teeth to keep my chin from quivering.

“It’s a pain she still feels today.” My voice dropped, rough around the edges. “A pain I wish I could take from her—every fucking day, Harper.”

My jaw locked.

“A pain I have been helping her heal from since we were kids.”

I forced myself to breathe.

“A pain she tries to hide from the world, but with me?” I clenched my fists. “She lets it all go. Because she trusts me, Harper.”

I leaned in just slightly.

“She trusts me with her life… and her heart… Harper.”

Harper swallowed hard.

“Ayla is the strongest person I know,” I continued, voice breaking just slightly. “But even though she’s the strongest…” I shook my head. “I’ll be damned if I ever add to her pain in any way.”

I straightened, then exhaled.

“And what you’re suggesting?” I lifted my chin. “That would bring my wife a lot of pain, and me a lot of shame.”

I let my words hang between us.

Shit.

I shook my head, chuckling darkly. “You’ve already done that, Harper.”

Harper’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

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