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Chapter One

ZERO

I thought ere done with the lies

How much deception am I supposed to take froive up?

Lilly lied to me

Again

Ted’s words won’t stop echoing in my head I’m her fiancé

That can’t be right I asked her to marry me a couple ho

urs ago

She said yes

But she’d already said yes to this guy

This guy? Really?

He’s still standing on the porch, aardly shifting from foot to foot

He ain’t gettin’ an invitation inside from me

“Daed”

“See to be confused about” My voice co ravel all over Ted’s shiny rental car Fifteen, twenty years ago, I probably would’ve done exactly that the second this clown showed up and opened his mouth

Today, I have a son I need to be here for him No matter what

“Z, it’s not true” Her fingers lightly brush againstthe chill away

I drag o, she rapped aroundat my back

Was she doing the sauy?

Her hand’s still pressed to lance down, the loose sleeve of the robe she threhen Ted cae of the scar I asked about earlier peeks out and so

It’s painful Personal And she was about to let me in Finally

Before Ted interrupted

I grip the doorknob tighter “You got an engage?” I ask Lilly

Too stunned by e in attitude, Lilly shakes her head “What?”

Ted’s such a swell guy, he pipes up and answers for Lilly “It’s back in California”

That’s all I need to know

“You can talk to her to by” With that dis it in Ted’s face with a satisfying bang

Outside, he , but a minute later, a car starts up and speeds down the driveway

I turn and face Lilly, who’s already backing away fro”

“Ted’s just a friend”

“I don’t give a fuck about Ted”

Like a snake, I strike, grabbing both of her wrists in one hand and turning them over Ruthlessly, I shove both her sleeves out of my way “What happened?”

She jerks back, but I hold on tighter

“An accident”

“Bullshit What accident leaves identical scars like this? Try again”

“Z,” she pleads

“And I know damn well you didn’t have them before, so don’t even try”

“I can’t” She’s pleading with everything in her to let this go Her big brown eyes bri with tears, her beautiful face, her body that she’s desperately trying to pull out of rip “Z, I can’t”

“You can and you will I think I’ve been more than patient I asked you to marry me before You said yes Then a few hours later, so he’s your fiancé? I’m out of patience with you, woman”

“You’re hurting me”

The high, thin whine to her voice jars h to release her She retreats but I’m not done with her No way

Step for step, I track her into the living room

Lilly’s a strong wo seems to make her flinch Guilt lashes atbecause of my questions

“Who hurt you?” I ask

She jerks her head up “What?”

Gentler this tier over the soft inside of her arm “Who did this?”

Tears I didn’t want to cause roll down her cheeks She opens her ue over her lips a few ti me the answer I never expected

“I did”

Chapter Two