Page 1 of Shattered Dreams
1
AVA
NOW
“Idon't like it."
I peer down at my daughter's huge green eyes, inherited from her father, now filled with defiance. She folds her arms to reinforce her point, chin jutting forward.
"Poppy—"
She shakes her head, refusing to let me finish. "Ithurts." A pout forms on her lips as I kneel to meet her gaze. She mirrors Roman so perfectly—I still can't believe she's five years old with the attitude of a teenager.
"Even Princess Amara of the Sun Palace brushes her teeth twice a day."
She gasps. "Even with all her royal tiger duties?"
I nod as I hold up the toothbrush for her inspection.
She frowns. "Can't Daddy do it?"
"Pop, you know Daddy won't be back until late." I sigh, wondering what excuse I can give this time. Hanging out with his buddies feels insufficient, but that's the truth.
"Can I wait until then?" Poppy asks with hope dancing in her eyes.
"No, but you can have a story if you let me brush your teeth now."
She nods with enthusiasm, finally opening her mouth.
My mind wanders to Roman, and I purse my lips. I should understand that he’s busy—he plays for the NFL, after all. But it cuts deep when his free time isn't spent here. With his family. I swallow against the lump forming in my throat, wondering what went wrong between us.
"What story would you like?" I ask as Poppy claps her hands with excitement.
I need to focus on her. I can contemplate my crumbling marriage later.
I follow her from her ensuite—yes,herensuite—to her room, a bright constellation of blues, pinks, whites, and glittery unicorns. Her room embodies everything I dreamed of as a child—but my dad wasn't an NFL player. He was barely present.
Positive tonight, aren't we, Ava?
Poppy falls to her knees beside her giant bookcase, skimming her finger along the sparkly titles until she sighs with frustration.
"Mommy, I loveallof them. Ican'tchoose."
I laugh as I perch on the bed, watching her dark curls fall over her shoulder as she tilts her head to see the titles more clearly.
"Nope. I can’t choose," she repeats firmly.
Imagine only having to worry about what story to read.
"Fine, I'll choose one. Hop into bed."
Poppy grins as I selectThe Mermaid and the Sea King. I settle into the chair beside her window as she crawls onto my lap. She smells of childhood and ice cream, even after brushing her teeth. Her scent still calms me, even when tension threatens to snap me in two. I kiss her head and inhale her peachshampoo, pushing away the nagging thought that Roman is missing this.
He misses everything.
But he never used to, my memories remind me, conjuring images of happier times: us unable to keep our hands off each other, the joy of discovering Poppy's impending arrival, the way he would tell me I was his everything when others claimed he could never be tamed. The man who told me I was his endgame. I remember him chasing me through sprinklers at 2 a.m., his championship ring catching the streetlights as he tackled me into the grass, soaking wet and laughing like children. We haven't laughed like that in years.
"Mommy, when can I see Uncle Kieron?" Poppy asks, interrupting my thoughts.
