The Ex-Husband of Alice Langley

35

PARIS SWIFT-KELCE
My palm rests over my belly as I walk down the streets of Manhattan. The cold air nips at my face, and I can feel the heaviness in my swollen feet with every step, the snow crunching beneath my boots. Even though I'm freezing, I needed to step outside—to think.

I take a deep breath, turning the last corner, and there it is: the bookstore. It looms in front of me like a familiar refuge, a place that holds so many memories.

Liam never works Fridays, and just to be safe, I made sure to come an hour before they closed. No way he'd still be here.

The bell rings as I step inside, the sound sharp against the quiet hum of the store. I glance around. Everything is just as I remember—aisles of books, warm lights, and the scent of paper and dust. This place used to feel like home. I can still see us here, laughing, talking, him spinning me around like we were in some kind of fairy tale. Now it's a nightmare from my past.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" An employee asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"I'm fine, thanks. I've been here plenty. I'm just buying a gift for my girlfriend." I offer a small smile and walk toward the historical fiction aisle, my mind drifting back to all the times Liam pointed out his favorites from these shelves. I'd read every one he recommended, just like he'd read all the books I'd shoved into his hands.

Then I hear it.

"Paris?"

I freeze, looking up. There he is, standing in front of me like a ghost from my past.

"What the hell, Liam! I thought you didn't work Fridays!" I blurt out, my voice sharper than I intended.

"I got promoted to supervisor last month. My hours changed." His tone is soft, almost apologetic. "What are you doing here?"

"That's—that's not the point!" I turn to leave, but his hand grabs mine, stopping me.

"Paris, I'm sorry." His words hang in the air, and I pull my hand free, my heart racing.

I start walking away, but I can hear his footsteps behind me.

"Paris!"

I whirl around. "What?!"

"Can we talk? Please? Just 15 minutes. I just ended my shift." He's practically pleading now.

"Liam..." I sigh, the fight slowly draining out of me.

"Please." His eyes search mine, and for a moment, I can see the Liam I used to know.

I roll my eyes. "You're buying."

A grin creeps onto his face. "What am I buying?"

"Chinese food." I shrug, trying to play it off casually as we step out into the cold again.

We walk in silence, the snow crunching beneath our feet as we make our way to my favorite Chinese place a couple of blocks away. The tension between us feels thick, but I focus on the familiar path, trying to keep my thoughts straight. Inside the restaurant, the warmth hits me, and we settle into a booth near the back.

"Fifteen minutes. Start." I press the timer on my phone, setting it on the table between us. The digital clock begins its countdown.

Liam takes a deep breath, his eyes shifting from the timer to me. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I screwed up. I was scared, and I said stupid things. A lot of stupid things that I didn't mean."

I cross my arms, leaning back into the booth. "Stupid doesn't even cover it, Liam."

"I know," he says quickly. "I panicked. I didn't handle any of it right, especially with you, and I hate that I hurt you. But I've been thinking about it, and I miss you. I miss us."