Page 57 of Shattered Dreams
“You blew it, pal. Ava is free to do whatever she pleases.”
This motherfucker?—
“Adam is right, Roman,” Ava seethes, glancing around at the crowd gathered around us. “It’s over between us.”
She sounds so fucking cold…
“No, Ava! This—this is you trying to hurt me.”
“No, Roman. This is me trying to live without you.” Her voice shakes. “This is me trying to feel like I still fucking matter.”
“I’m not letting you do this,” I state, chest heaving. “I’m not letting you fall for someone else. Not while I’m still breathing.”
She laughs—cold and heartbroken. “You don’t get to ‘let me’ do anything anymore.”
Adam steps forward, rubbing his jaw. “Maybe you should go?—”
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap.
He stares at me, then looks at Ava. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she assures, brushing her dress down, like she’s trying to wipe me off her.
The silence between us is fucking radioactive.
She straightens, chin lifted. “If you ever touch him again, I’ll press charges.”
Well, fuck.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what you do. If any man touches my fucking wife, they get to meet my fist. End of.”
Ava stares at me. “Roman, do me a favour and fucking divorce me because I don’t want to be your wife anymore.”
My heart fucking cracks. Right there, in the middle of the sidewalk, with string lights above us and strangers pretending they’re not watching.
I’m losing her.
“No,” I whisper, more to myself than to her. “I can’t.”
“Adam, I’m so sorry about this.” Ava turns to hold his face, but I move forward, and she stops, her hand in mid-air.
I stare at Adam who is watching me with an expression I don’t fucking like.
Don’t fucking touch her. Don’t you fucking dare.
“I understand if you don’t want to see me again,” Ava tells him, shooting me a look of disgust.
You better not fucking say anything, punk.
“It’s too much for me, all of this. Maybe call me when you’ve ditched the dumb jock.” Adam gives her a wink that has me jumping on the fucker, my fists raining down on him.
“Roman!” Ava screams, but I don't stop.
The fucking nerve of this cunt!
“She’smyfucking wife!” I roar, dragging him nose to nose with me as I tell him again. “Touch her or see her again, and I’ll fucking snap every finger you have before breaking every bone in your body.”
“Don’t blame me; if you wouldn’t have fucked some cheap skank, she’d still be yours! You’re done, man!” Adam yells, trying to shove me off him.
