The Ex Dilemma

Prologue

Wesley

Sixteen years ago

Days like this were rare. Especially after the year I’d had. Beautiful blue skies, a balmy breeze, my carefree existence, and her lying beneath me at our spot … Everything was perfect. When I woke up this morning, I knew two things to be true.

My family was fucked up.

Albany Keyes was everything.

I should’ve known euphoria wouldn’t last. I had been lulled into a state of ignorance I never really had an option to embrace before.

In a few minutes, I would have to pay the price for trying to forget about what was wrong with my life.

Before sunrise, I would drown in the heartbreak of my reality. But not right now …

Albany cuddled into my side. “You made everything so special.”

I raised a questioning brow. “Are you sure? Because I—”

She cut me off with a soft kiss. “You were amazing.”

We were young, sixteen years old, but I knew that being with her like this was a gift. One that she’d given me freely, without reservation. We’d talked about sex many times, but I never expected it to happen tonight. And even though I knew what was coming, I couldn’t walk away.

She was right, though. It was amazing. Beautiful. The way our bodies moved together, the smell of her skin. Every moment, every kiss, every touch … The memory would console and haunt me for the rest of my life.

I pressed my lips to hers, brushed her nose with mine. “You’re so beautiful.”

Albany never knew how to handle compliments. Her first reaction was always to hide, so I wasn’t surprised when she buried her face in my chest. “Wes,” she whispered.

“You’re perfect. I wish I could stay here forever,” I confessed.

She giggled. “Stop.”

Her soft laughter wrapped around me. I wanted to record the sound of it so that I could remember how she always made me feel, how much she trusted me, how much she loved me. Because tomorrow she would hate me.

Leaning back, I tipped her head up. “I mean it, Bug.” To others, her nickname might have sounded like an insult. But only she knew what it really meant to me. It was mine—and mine only. “Always remember that.”

She searched my eyes, her brow furrowing with confusion. “What’s wrong?” We’d spent enough time together for her to sense the shift in my mood, no matter how much I wanted to spare her. “Who was that on the phone?”

I glared at my cell phone, fighting the urge to crush it with the wooden bat in the corner of the room. A few minutes ago, I’d taken the call that had cast a dark shadow over a pure moment of bliss.

“Wes?” she called softly.

Earlier, she’d confessed her love for me. Albany had always been more brave, more secure than I was. Fearless. Strong in her beliefs. Even when the world was against her. While I didn’t voice my thoughts at the time, my love for her was real. And I wanted her to know before I walked away from her.

When I met her gaze again, instead of answering her question, I kissed her. “I love you,” I murmured against her mouth, swallowing up her gasp with another kiss.

With our mouths fused together, I reached for a condom.

Seconds later, I slipped it on and inched inside her.

Slowly. She was so tight. So warm. The first time—for both of us—was quick.

Lasted about a minute. I’d tried to make it last, but my inexperience wouldn’t let me.

This time, I moved slowly, trying to extend my release while praying that she would come with me.

I didn’t expect my body to run ahead without her again, but it did.

Just like before, I shook as an orgasm rumbled through me, stealing all my energy.

Collapsing on her, I struggled to catch my breath. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, sucking her nipple. “I’m so sorry.”

Her fingers raked through my hair. “It’s okay, baby. We’re okay.”

I sighed heavily, glanced at her. “I had high hopes.”

Albany laughed and my heart cracked open a little bit more. “We have time to get this right.”

Shame rolled through me like choppy waves. Our time had run out. Squeezing my eyes shut, I sat up. “Albany, I—”

I felt her mouth on my back, her hands on my skin. “Wes, are you sure you’re okay?”

In the past, I would’ve told her everything. The stakes were too high, though, and I’d been sworn to secrecy. “I’m fine,” I lied. “I just wanted to do better for our first time.”

That part was true. I realized a while ago that fucking around with every girl in school wasn’t what I wanted, especially since Albany was the prize. I’d loved her for so long, it was a small sacrifice to wait until she was ready.

Albany rested her forehead against my shoulder. “You were gentle, kind, loving … perfect for me.”

Her words were like a salve over the chapped parts of my soul. From the time she’d tossed my Game Boy in a puddle because I hurt her feelings, she’d been a constant in my life, my biggest cheerleader, my best friend. And I would miss her. I kissed her brow. “My mom wants me to come home.”

She peered up at me. “Now?”

I nodded. “I promised that I’d bring dinner home.” The lies kept coming. Just like my father. He’d told many tall tales and ended up dead. Am I next? My mother had existed on saltine crackers and tea for the last several weeks. She wouldn’t eat, barely slept. “She’s still pretty sad.”

“That’s understandable,” she said. “I can’t imagine losing a husband.”

My father’s death had devastated our family.

But the turmoil he’d left behind would have lasting impacts on all our lives.

Mom had been stressed, saying cryptic things.

Strange people called at all times of the day.

I had to sneak out this morning because we were forbidden to leave the house.

The freedom that I’d once taken for granted had vanished the moment Mom received that dreaded call. “Yeah.”

“You should go then.”

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Just a few steps to my front door.”

Brushing my lips over hers again, I asked, “Are you sure?”

“Very.” She cupped my face in her tiny palms and kissed my eyelids, my nose, then my mouth. “Call me when you get home.”

Several minutes later, after another make-out session, I walked to the door of the carriage house, situated on the far end of her grandmother’s estate.

We’d spent many days holed up there, doing homework, sharing our dreams, talking about everything good and bad in our lives.

Turning back to her, I took her in. Her brown skin, her ruffled hair, her sincere eyes …

She held a small fleece blanket against her naked skin as she watched me, a smile on her lips.

A heaviness settled in my gut, my chest, my limbs.

I had only ever felt this way one time—when my mother told me my father died.

Just like death, I couldn’t see how we would come back from this.

At the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth.

We weren’t going to have a tomorrow. Tonight was it. A perfect memory.

My vision blurred as I swallowed against the hard lump in my throat. “Albany, I—” I dropped my head, unable to walk away. I wanted more time with her. Damn the consequences. My mother would be angry, but I didn’t care. “Can you stay here?” I asked.

She frowned, confusion lining her features. “You want me to wait for you? What about your mom?”

“I’ll go home, take care of her. Then, I’ll bring food here for us.”

Her face lit up. “Sure.” She picked up the book she’d brought with her and held it up. “I can read while you’re gone.”

I nodded. “Good.” Finally, I unlatched the lock and opened the door. “I’ll be back.”