Page 24 of Shattered Dreams
Kieron stands a few feet away, one shoulder against the porch column. He's grown into himself since college—the lanky English boy transformed into a man with broad shoulders and quiet confidence. His dark hair falls across his forehead in that careless way that would take most men an hour to perfect. The kind of man who turns heads without noticing.
My best friend. The way he looks at me, like he told me years ago Roman was bad news, and if only I'd listened...
"No," I say.
He walks over and drops onto the bench beside me, quiet for a moment. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"He promised. He said we were endgame."
Kieron laces his fingers through mine and squeezes. "I don't doubt he meant it."
I glance at him in surprise—it’s not like him to defend Roman.
"Can I say something you might not want to hear?"
"Oh, go on then," I reply, my voice half groan, half challenge.
"It might explain a little from Roman's side."
That gets my attention. Kieron and Roman are complete opposites. For Kieron to entertain sympathy for my husband feels surreal.
"You remember Louise?"
"Your Oxford girl? Yeah." I frown. "I thought you were going to marry her."
He nods, jaw working. "I didn't. Because I cheated."
I stare at him, stunned. Kieron isn't like that. He isn't a fuckboy. He's handsome, in demand with women, but he isn't a cheater.
"I met someone else," he continues, eyes on the lake. "I didn't mean to. But she...she just got me. I told myself I was being selfish, that Louise deserved more. But I still crossed the line."
"So you slept with the other girl?"
He looks up at me, closes his eyes, and nods. "Once."
Like a punch to the stomach. "Jesus, Kieron."
"I was in love with her."
"But you were with Louise!"
"I know. As soon as I spent the night with Grace, I went to see Louise. I told her everything, and we ended it."
I sit in silence, watching ripples on the lake. I don't want to judge him—but it hurts to think even he's capable of that.
"I'm not defending Roman. But we all mess up. Sometimes in ways that break everything. It doesn't mean we don't regret it every day."
I close my eyes. "He has a child, Kieron. A marriage. And he still chose her."
"I doubt he ever gave her his whole self," Kieron comments, voice low. "He loves you."
I turn sharply. "Whose side are you on?"
"Yours. Always have been."
I swallow as he meets my eyes.
"Roman hates me, you know. Because I was in love with you."
