“Damn it.”
I killed the engine and stared through the windshield. Bella and Dale sat by the window of the café, laughing. They looked comfortable. Too comfortable.
I hadn’t seen Bella laugh like that in weeks. With me, she’d been quiet. Guarded. With Dale, she looked light.
I should’ve driven off. I didn’t. My hands stayed locked on the wheel while something hot and ugly crawled up my throat. I didn’t know what game Dale was playing, but I knew he was watching me. Watching us.
Earlier, after breakfast, he’d told me he’d found Bella crying. That landed like a punch. I couldn’t fix it then. I couldn’t do anything yet. Soon. I was already moving pieces to introduce her to my family the right way. I was just buried under work.
Dale’s parting shot before I left the house was to claim
