Page 64 of Stolen Fate

“It wasn’t very long. Just a few days. Then he was back with me, where he belongs.”

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that alone. Is that when you divorced Camila?”

I shook my head. The next part was hard to admit, and Evelyn frowned at my denial. “No, we had separated for a while before that, but I didn’t divorce her. Reeds don’t get divorced—that had been a part of my family motto. My parents live separate lives, but they won’t get divorced, ever.”

She was silent when she took in that information. I wondered what she thought of the ridiculous traditions. Had that not been the case, I would have left Camila when Elijah was born and took my son away from her. I should have done just that instead of deluding myself into thinking that I could have given him a family… with Camila as his mom.

“Honestly, getting a divorce wasn’t really on my mind then. My one and only focus had been Elliot.”

“What changed?” she asked. “You are obviously divorced now.”

“Another tidbit from the media?” I asked, not unkindly.

She looked down, blushing a little. “Sorry. I know I shouldn’t have gotten into that, but I was only trying to find out more about the kind of man you are. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Jace, but you’re very closed-off.”

“It’s okay,” I said. It was only natural for her to be curious. And I had no right to be mad, considering what I was doing before we met. I shook away the thought. That was a problem for another day. “We officially got divorced six months ago.”

It had been quick, though not painless. Quick, considering we had been separated for years, but painful, considering Camila didn’t want to give up her cash cow.

“Why? What changed? Did you finally realize you deserve better?”

I let out a self-deprecating laugh; it was as dry and humorless as I felt. I didn’t know about deserving anything at that moment.

“I found out something about Camila that was unforgivable. And it was enough for me to get her to stay away from me. To stay out of Elliot’s life and never come back,” I said carefully. I didn’t want to tell her what that was, at least not today. Camila hadn’t made any contact since I kicked her out of the house. And if I was lucky, she never would again. Though I knew she hadn’t given up.

I met Evelyn’s eyes and held my breath, waiting for her to ask me what that was, waiting for any lie I could come up with to give to her that would sound believable enough, but she didn’t ask.

Instead, she finished off her drink and slammed the glass on the island, making a clacking noise in the otherwise silent house that almost had her jumping off the kitchen stool.

A small laugh escaped my lips, and I placed one hand on her small shoulder, keeping her where she was.

She winced. “Sorry. I didn’t think it would be so loud.”

I shrugged. “Elliot’s a heavy sleeper. I doubt an earthquake could wake him, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank you for telling me,” she said, standing up. Disappointment weighed down in my stomach. I didn’t want her to go yet.

There was something comforting about her presence that I couldn’t get enough of. I watched as she moved to the sink and placed her empty glass inside.

“Leave it,” I said, when it looked like she was going to wash it. “I’ve got it.”

She turned and looked at me, leaning against the sink as if she didn’t have the energy to hold herself up anymore.

Slowly, I stood up and stalked my way toward her. She watched me with dark, animated eyes, but for once, I didn’t know what that look in her eyes meant. I came to a stop directly in front of her and, reaching around her, I placed my glass in the sink as well, only I didn’t move away.

I pushed forward until the front of our bodies were plastered against each other and I could feel her hard nipples press against me in the most delicious way.

She let out a stuttered gasp.

“Do you believe in fate?” I asked, letting the heat of her body wash over me.

“No, I don’t,” she answered quickly. No hesitation whatsoever. “Do you?”

I smiled at that. Fate. Did I believe in fate? I didn’t know. But perhaps there was such a thing as fate, and she was laughing at the situation I found myself in. To be obsessed with Evelyn in the worst way possible. I shouldn’t be obsessed about her… especially her, but I was, and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“Tell me to stop,” I told her, leaning down so our foreheads touched. I could smell the scotch on her lips, and I wanted nothing more than to close the gap between us. I wanted to so badly, I ached with the need. “Tell me to go away, Evelyn.”

“Jace,” she breathed, reacting to her name on my lips, perhaps, or to the way our bodies touched, or even to the small space between our lips. “We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered, and I wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince: me or her.

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