Jenna Valentino thought she had found her forever after.
Life was good. A husband she loved, a daughter she adored, a dream job and a beautiful home. But nothing could prepare her for the bittersweet taste of betrayal, shattering the illusion.
Dev...
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~~ Jenna ~~
Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I chewed my bottom lip. Just get out of the car and walk up those three steps and knock on the door.
Simple, Right?
Wrong.
I'd been sat here for the last ten minutes arguing the merits of going home.
Which was crazy. I'd kept my fingers crossed his sister would text me his address and the minute the text arrived, I attempted to talk myself out of seeing him again.
Blowing out a puff of air, I looked around his neighborhood. It was nice. Not like anything I'd expected—what did I expect?
A cool bachelor apartment—a condo on the beach? God knows.
But this, hidden away in the corner of a cul-de-sac. I'd describe it as a starter home in the Craftsman style. With a red and white front door and cute front porch with decorative picket fence with two cherry blossom trees up-front. It was a beautiful home. The kind of place I wanted to buy for me and Ava, just the two of us.
Lifting my phone, I was about to google the schools in the area when I mentally slapped myself.
What the hell was I doing? I'm here to apologise—not buy a house.
Get out the goddamn car, Jenna!
Heaving a determined sigh, I grabbed my purse and flung open the car door.
Bouncing up the three front steps, I knocked on the door. And waited.
And waited some more. Part of me felt relief, but a bigger part felt deflated. He wasn't home.
I was just about to turn and leave when I heard shuffling and what sounded like someone tripping over something and cursing.
Was that a woman? The door cracked open slightly.
My stomach lurched as a sharp shaft of pain cut through me. It was a young woman. She answered the door still half asleep, her eyes squinting with the brightness of the sun.
Obviously I must have woken her. She had been in bed—with Gabe.
Oh my god!
"—H-hello." She yawned, rubbing one foot against her leg, whilst giving me the once over. "Can I help you?"
I forced a smile. "Sorry, I was looking for Gabriele Valentino?"
She blinked a few times, before scrubbing her eyes, smudging what looked like yesterday's mascara. "Gabe? He's in bed asleep. You just woke me. What time is it?"
"Nine!" She looked confused. "In the morning." I reiterated.
"Jesus. I can't remember the last time I was awake this early!" She yawned again, opening the door up further.
