Page 5 of No Turning Back
Aiden shakes his head. "No. Not yet." After a beat he continues. "You know-" I look up, eyes locking on him. "He really needs you right now."
"Aiden," Kate warns, voice tight.
But it’s too late.
“Needs me right now?” I repeat, rising to my feet like the words lit a fuse inside me. "You know whatIneed? Apartner. A man who doesn’t sayone last tourand then sneak out the damn dooragain.A man who doesn’t slink off while I’m asleep like I’m some one-night stand and not hiswife."
Aiden blinks, like he didn’t expect the explosion. Maybe he thought he could guilt me into caring. Into making it easy on his best friend.
He backs down, hands raised slightly. "He’s leaving, Quinn.There’s nothing to be done now."
I laugh, sharp and humourless. "So, what,he does the exact thing I begged him not to, and I’m supposed to what? Be agood little wifebecause ‘the man has spoken’?"
I step back from the table, pulse hammering, heat rising in my chest.
"No. Screw you, Aiden. And screw your bro."
Silence slams into the room like a wall. Not even Kate tries to stop me this time.
I don’t look back as I grab my bag and walk out. I don't have the strength to explain myself, not again.
But as I close the door behind me, I can’t help but think: They don’t know the whole picture. Not even close.
I never told anyone about the adoption. About the nights I lay awake wondering if Markus meant it, ifthistour would really be his last. About the quiet resentment that kept growing every time he said,“soon”when I asked about starting a family.
Yes, I’m scared for him. Of course, I am.
But I’m also scared forme. Scared of how long I’m supposed to keep putting our life on hold while he figures out if he’sdonechasing chaos.
This isn’t just some tragic, complicated mess that I'm foisting on him. This is a problem he helped create.
I’ve always made it clear; I wanted a family. From day one.
But Markusand everyone elsejust assumed that because I had a tough childhood, because I wore a uniform and carried a weapon, I didn’t want to be a mom. That softness was for other women. That I couldn’t possibly want that kind of love for myself.
But the truth? I’ve always wanted it.
Finding out I can’t have biological children didn’t change that. If anything, it made me want it more. Made itreal.
And Markus said he understood. I never asked him to quit, never asked him to change.
I’m pulling into the garage when my phone rings. I let it go to voicemail while I grab my bag and head inside.
It starts ringing again immediately.
I sigh, annoyed, and pull it out of my pocket.
Mom.
I love her, I really do. But she’s back with my dad for the ninth time, and there’s only so much emotional drama I can handle today. I swipe to answer, already crafting an excuse to get off quickly.
“Hey, Mom,” I say, trying to sound casual.
“Sweetie,” she says in a cautious tone.
My entire body goes rigid. That tone is never good.
“Ma,” I ask, slowly. “What’s wrong?”
