Fate Forgotten by J. L. Sheppard

Jake?” His attention snapped to Annie standing at the mouth of the hallway leading to the bedrooms. “Are you mad at Val? I heard you yell at her.” She approached them.
    His stomach turned. Kneeling in front of her, he cupped her cheek. “No, pupa, I’m mad at myself.”
    “You hurt her feelings. She’s crying.”
    His chest tightened. “Shit,” he whispered, then stilled. “I didn’t say that.”
    Annie nodded. “Yes, you did. I heard it, but I won’t repeat it. I promise.” She looked behind him, then met his stare again. “You should say you’re sorry and buy her a present.”
    He must’ve heard her wrong. “Huh?”
    “When Mommy got mad at Daddy, he would say sorry, then buy her a present to make it better. You should get her flowers.”
    Flowers? There weren’t enough flowers in the world to show her how sorry he was.
    “We’ll be in our apartment,” Clyde said. “Come, Annie.”
    He watched them walk away, strode down the hallway, and stopped in front of the only room with a closed door, Valerie’s. He knocked.
    “Nathan?”
    His temper flared again. He bit his tongue to stop himself from screaming. “No,” he said through clenched teeth. “It’s Jacob.”
    Through the door with his superior hearing, he heard a sharp inhale of breath. “I’m not feeling well—”
    Open or I’ll break down the door . He thought better of it and said, “I’ll just stay out here and wait until you feel better.”
    “Please don’t. Please leave.”
    He leaned his forehead against the door, realizing he had no choice but to apologize with a door standing between them. “Valerie, I’m sorry. I was angry, and I said something I’ll never forgive myself for, but please forgive me.”
    She didn’t speak, so he took the chance and went on.
    “I didn’t mean what I said. I was jealous—”
    “Jealous? Of what?”
    He swallowed. “I didn’t want anyone seeing you…” Naked. No, she hadn’t been. Half naked?He settled for “…in your state—”
    “In my state? What state is that?” Her voice rose, throwing sass, not sounding afraid of him one bit now.
    It pleased him. What didn’t please him—she needed a door between them to speak her mind.
    “You were practically naked. I could see…” He closed his eyes. The image of her wearing the white oversized shirt flooded him. Her beautiful face, her sleek body, those flawless legs…
    His mind ran wild, imagining her face inches from his, her body tucked against his, and those legs wrapped around him. “You could see—”
    The door swung open, and the words died on his lips. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.
    He cursed under his breath.
    She laughed. His head snapped up, gaze on her, and his heart stilled in his chest. A sparkle lit her warm, honey eyes, her smiling face illuminating the room, blinding him. Breathtaking, more beautiful than he thought possible.
    She tensed. Her smile faded. Fear mingled with her earlier amusement.
    “Laugh.” He smiled. “It’s funny, and I deserve worse.”
    She relaxed and smiled. He allowed his gaze to trail down her body, covered with a long robe.
    Just a few feet from her, he rose to his knees. “I am sorry, Valerie. I was a jerk.”
    Her eyes widened. “It’s fine.”
    He shook his head. “No, it’s not. I hurt you. Made you cry.”
    She turned her head to the side. “Yeah, but I electrocuted you yesterday, and you forgave me so…”
    “It’s not the same.”
    She shrugged. “Maybe not, but…”
    “Would you forgive me if you electrocute me again?”
    Her eyes widened. “What?” Her voice rose slightly. “Do you think I’d get pleasure from hurting you? How will that solve anything?”
    “Revenge?”
    “The idea of revenge is always better than the feeling afterward.”
    “That depends on the reason for revenge.”
    “No, it doesn’t. Haven’t you ever heard ‘revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice’?”
    His jaw dropped. When he recovered, he found