Page 34 of Never Too Late

“Yes?” I pushed the question between my clenched teeth.

“What’s in between?” Vivian whispered, making it seem like she knew the answer.

I was right, I should have braced myself.

The moment she asked the question, Sophie’s voice sounded in my mind. It tore me to shreds all over again.

Because I felt exactly the same.

Every day after you threw me away was a struggle. Every day I prayed I would get better. Every day I hoped the pain would be less painful. And all through those days I slapped a smile on my face and faked my way through. And every night I fell asleep in tears, wishing the next day wouldn’t come. Because even the thought of you not being a part of it ripped me in half.

With enough time, you become a master at hiding it.

It was on the tip of my tongue. I almost let the curse explode from my mouth. By some miracle, I managed to bite it and not let it loose.

I couldn’t help the painful grunt, though.

“Go,” Vivian whispered and I focused on her. “Go and get her.” She indicated to Zara with the tilt of her head, her arm thrown over the chair’s back. “I have our girl.”

12

Sophie

I was finishing up cleaning the kitchen, my Christmas bake-off done which was not nearly as much fun when doing it alone as it was with my grandma or as it would be with Zara, when there was a loud bang on the door.

I didn’t want to answer it.

Not after what happened that morning or afternoon.

But since I was still a town’s doctor and there could be an emergency, I had no choice.

I did not expect the man that was standing there, his fist raised, ready to pound some more on my door, to stand where he stood.

“Tell me,” he growled before I had the chance to say anything.

“Tell you what?” I asked. Why was he here? Why did he keep coming after me? Why did he feel the need to torture me so much?

“What is in between?”

Oh, God!

“Don’t do this, Dylan. Please,” I pleaded with him, but he just shook his head and a stubborn look in his eyes intensified.

My mouth suddenly went dry, but I powered through. If he wanted to know this badly, then he’ll know.

“Dreams,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Dreams are what’s in between.”

“Dreams of what, baby?”

Baby.

God.

Oh, God!

He has been killing me for the last three weeks. Sure, it was unknowingly just by showing me glimpses of the man he once was. Of the one he became. Still, I thought I couldn’t survive it. And after that kiss, I was sure that day would be the last one I had on this earth.

But I was wrong.