We spent the day going on every coaster we could, and some more than once. I was going to be even more sore when the day way done, but it didn’t matter. We had a great time, and it was worth a little pain to have such fun, carefree moments where we could be kids again.

The next day was filled with fun and relaxation around the hotel pool. We needed it after two hard days, and the water was great at relaxing sore muscles.

“You keep taking me on vacation to warm, sunny places and then making me leave,” Lila grumbled at me on our last morning.

I chuckled. “Sorry, but we have to go. I’m just happy we were able to take a couple of days to get away.”

“Me too.” She leaned against me, yawning.

There was a whole new woman beside me when we returned home. I loved the new side of my wife. I loved seeing her happy, and I’d do anything to keep her that way.

CHAPTER 18

Lila was stuck in a strange state between relief and fear for the weeks following the trial. Adam had been found guilty on all charges, but there was still sentencing to go. She was teetering on an edge¸ and I knew things would tip when the ruling came down.

Our little getaway helped, but the countdown to sentencing was excruciating. We were both ready for it to be done, over. Put the crap in the past and move on to the future.

“Lunch today?” Lila asked as we rode the elevator up to the office.

My face scrunched up a bit at the uncertainty in her tone. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”

She looked down to the floor. “I just didn’t know what your schedule looked like.”

“Sunny with a chance of afternoon Honeybear.” I winked at her.

That got a smile to peek out and an elbow into my ribs. The damn dark cloud was washing over her again. The effect it had on her was hell to watch, and harder every day to combat.

One f**king day left before Adam’s blackness wouldn’t be able to touch her anymore. I hoped the judge would give him the full extent of each charge.

The elevator opened, and I linked my fingers with hers, pulling her along and out of her head.

“Sorry.” She sighed and leaned against me as we walked down the hall.

“Don’t be. Stop being sorry. It’s his fault. He’s the one who should be sorry.”

“I hate that he still has a hold on me.”

I stopped, and she looked up at me. I caressed her cheek, giving her the reassurance she needed. “He won’t after tomorrow.”

She leaned into my touch, relaxing and even resting against me. The wall she was unknowingly building between us was collapsing. “I’m not paying you the attention you deserve. It should be you who consumes my every thought.”

“Me and my dick.”

Her eyes widened and she looked around, then smiled and nodded when she saw no one was watching. I couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward and kissing her. She let out a small gasp before gripping my jacket and pulling me closer, deepening it, opening her mouth and seeking out my tongue with her own.

“PDA! Ewwwww.” Owen laughed as he passed us by.

I broke away from Lila and flipped Owen the bird as he continued on down the hall. Even Lila was snickering. I couldn’t think of a better replacement for me. Owen was a good guy and had a way of keeping the atmosphere light—something Lila needed.

“Come on.” She pulled on my arm, and we continued.

I kissed her again at her door before continuing down the way to my office. Twenty-four hours. Things would change then—we just had to make it through the next day.

There was a clink as I threw my bag onto my desk. I’d almost forgotten that I remembered to bring a photo for my desk. I already had one from our wedding, one taken at my parents’ house, and another from the holiday party, but the newest one could possibly be my favorite of all.

I pulled the photo set in its new frame from my bag and placed it on my desk, next to my monitor. It was bound to get me in trouble, causing a constant hard-on looking at her lust-filled face every day.

Lila still pleaded with me to keep it at home, but I was set on what I’d said at Disneyworld. I wanted to be able to see it, see her, all the time.

I needed the good times to help me get past the days like today, when the world weighed down on my shoulders.

It was a beautiful day, which hopefully meant good things were coming our way. The late April day was not filled with showers, but rather a crystal clear blue sky and bright sun. Even the temperature was perfect for the day—sixty-five degrees.

“We just have to get through this, and it’s done. Over,” Lila said to herself in the mirror as she did her makeup.

I wanted to say something, anything to reassure her, but at the moment everything failed me. We were both wound tight. The last few months had been a constant up and down, and we both desperately needed Adam to be gone and our lives to even out.

My mind couldn’t stop playing out the devastation of Adam getting the minimum, which would have him out in less than ten years. I honestly couldn’t gauge my reaction if that happened. Would I crumble along with Lila, or would I f**king lose it and do anything I could to kill him?

Part of me wanted that. His death would make her world a better place, and I would do anything for her.

Darren was very concerned about that reaction—afraid I might go off the deep end and snap. What was worse was that I could see it playing out in my mind. The satisfaction of watching the life bleed out of him, out of his eyes.

The need to protect her at any cost, even above my own life, was severe.

I pulled my suit jacket on and straightened the collar in the mirror. “Ready?”

Her reflection froze still as a statue. I turned toward her, waiting.

“Tell me everything’s going to be okay.”

Fuck. I was already failing her today.

“Everything’s going to be great. In a few hours, Adam will be in prison for a very long time.” I couldn’t even convince myself with the tone I spoke in, so how the hell was I supposed to convince her?

Adam would be out of our lives, but for how long? Could I handle the decision if it wasn’t as good as we hoped?

She turned to look at me, her demeanor shut down, and I fell apart.

I covered the few steps between us and scooped her up in my arms, crashing my lips to hers. She shook in my arms, fingers scratching at me as they wrapped around my neck, teeth clacking as the frenzy built.

How could I forget the easiest, most simple way to get us out of our heads?