Page 57 of A Sinful Gravity

He got up, grabbed his wet coat, and put it on. At the door, he glanced back, but I didn't look.

The door clicked shut, and my tears fell. The room went silent, like it had all been a dream.

I sat in the dim light until my phone rang, breaking the quiet.

It was Chloe. "Luna, we're almost there. You home?"

Laila leaned in. "Sorry, Mommy, we went overtime. But it was so fun! Chloe got me tons of yummy stuff!"

I cleared my throat, forcing my voice normal. "It's okay, baby. Mommy's waiting."

After hanging up, I stood. But the ache between my legs made me stumble, nearly fall.

I grabbed the cabinet, flashes of him hitting me. Damn Cassian.

I went to the bathroom, flipped on the light, and faced the mirror.

The woman staring back had red-rimmed eyes and looked exhausted. I splashed cold water on my face, fixed my hair, and threw on a clean jacket.

Passing the living room, I picked up his used towel from the floor, tossed it in the washer, then yanked it out and chucked it in the trash.

No way I'd use it later and think of him.

When the door unlocked, I'd just cleaned up the mess in the living room and bedroom, leaning on the sofa with an ice pack on my eyes.

"Mommy!"

Laila burst in, throwing herself at my legs. She looked up, eyes sparkling like stars. Chloe smiled and shut the door behind.

"Mommy, I'm back! The Ferris wheel was awesome! You could see all of Washington in lights! Too bad the rain hit, couldn't stay outside."

I scooped her up; she wrapped her arms around my neck, warm and soft.

My irritation faded under her smile.

"Did Laila have fun?" I undid her messy braids.

"Yeah! Chloe got me so many gifts!" She sat up, opened her pink backpack, and showed me each one like treasure.

"And these." Chloe set a big bag on the coffee table.

"All this?"

"Couldn't help it." Chloe shrugged. "Laila's too cute."

I chuckled, patted Laila's head. "Okay, but it's bedtime for little ones now."

Laila pouted, dragging it out. "Okaaay—"

She hopped off, then remembered something, turned to Chloe.

"Chloe, next time we watch Mommy dance together!"

"Absolutely," Chloe promised seriously.

Laila grinned, bounced off to change.

I told Chloe to hang on and gave Laila a quick bath. The kid was wiped out, leaning on me halfway through, drowsy.