Fractured Affections (The Affections Series Book 1) by Elizabeth Wills Page B

to have a bond so strong that nothing could break it. I wanted to create a family like the one I had with my parents, before it was stolen from me. Nothing was ever the same after that. All I ever wanted to do was experience true happiness again. As I snicker to myself, I realize that was stolen from me too.
    I still don’t understand what happened. After talking to Reagan in the kitchen, I fear that things went down differently in her eyes than mine. My aunt was certain that she walked in on Dalton and Reagan together, in his room. He was holding her while she cried, discussing how they were going to tell me that they were together. After battling myself on making the right decision to leave Reagan and join the military, I decided to pack my bags and leave without a word to either of them. They only person who knew where I was going, at the time, was my aunt.
    I just walked away: never asking any questions, never finding any peace or closure. My decisions were rash and solely based on my feelings at the time. I never thought about her or Dalton, and how my leaving would affect them. After hearing my aunt paint the picture of a life without Reagan in my arms, and in the arms of my cousin, leaving was my only option. I wouldn’t have survived watching them together. It took me a while to come meet Dalton and his oldest son.
    Dalton always reached out to me. At first, I was consumed with anger and ignored every attempt he made to speak to me. It wasn’t until their oldest was three, and Rea was pregnant again with Max, that I realized if she was happy that was all I could ask for in life. I would not interfere. I would forgive Dalton because I missed him, too. While I may not have been able to have everything I wanted in life, I could have my cousin back. He was just as important to me. Maybe, that’s why their betrayal hurt so much.
    I park in the driveway, next to Reagan’s black SUV, and make my way into the house. The sound of her voice travels from the kitchen. I swear she lives in that room. Always taking care of others, but I guess with three boys in the house, there are a lot of meals to be made. I lean against the doorway and watch her work on dinner. She is still so beautiful. I can’t help but let my eyes wander down her body. She’s wearing these tight black leggings, showing off all her curves. My thoughts drift in a direction less PG, causing my heart to beat at a faster rate.
    Dalton knows I never stopped loving Rea. It makes me wonder why he asked me to stay here while he’s out of town. I’m not sure I could have a man come into my home, with my woman, knowing that he looks at her in more than a platonic way. It’s in this moment, quietly watching her, that I realize a friendship with Reagan will be almost impossible for me. In my heart, she is still my Alma and always will be. I could never cross Dalton in that way, though. I’m just not that kind of man.
    I walk slowly to the counter next to her and rest my hands on its edge. “Need any help with anything?” I ask with a smile.
    “Oh Shit!” Reagan jumps back startled by my approach. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”
    I can’t help but laugh at her surprise. I want to reach out and steady her but I think better of it. I don’t want to risk the contact. Last time she ran into me in the hallway, my heart began to pound in my chest, and all of those fucked up feelings I’ve been suppressing for years, started to creep up like a raging fire inside of me.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. What do you have going on here? Anything I can help with?” I ask pointing to the cutting board she has out. I notice she has a rubber glove covering her injured hand. “How is the finger? Didn’t you follow up with an ortho?”
    “Yeah, I need to talk to you about that, actually. They want to do surgery.” She places her knife on the board and turns to look at me. “Which means, I may need your help with Dalton gone. I hate to ask this of