Maybe Forever (Maybe... Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

her but then it clicked—this was the infamous Benny, the bombshell Jonas spent ages swooning over when we'd had a barbecue in our apartment building's communal garden. She tossed her hair back and reached out—her hand lingered on his arm. Move, Mads , I wanted to scream. Don't let her touch you! But he took a swig of his beer and let her hand stay perched near his elbow. She took a step closer to him—his eyes traveled the whole length of her and then lingered on her chest.
    Fucking hell...
    I shouted his name, hoping he could hear me above the music and conversations. I was nearly there when he finally turned and saw me. I didn't imagine the startled look on his face. He rushed over to me, already apologizing even though I could barely hear him over the music. He took my arm and led me through the crowd again. When we were outside, he tried to explain again.
    "You could have called me." I stepped away from him. "You should have said you were having a party at the workshop."
    "It was spur of the moment—we won the bid for the hotel project. And the owners sent everything...the drinks, the food...by courier." He blocked me in by the wall. "Laney, I'm sorry...I should have..."
    "You should have come. You should have remembered what you said last night." I dodged the kiss he tried to give me, it landed on the side of my mouth. I pushed him away. "No, you can't kiss or fuck your way out of this one..."
    "Jesus, Laney, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen, we just got so excited when we heard the news."
    I shook my head; I didn't want to hear any more. "I'll see you at home."
    " Fanden , Laney...don't just walk away."
    But I kept walking. I told myself he'd catch up with me. He'd come home, we'd work everything out. But by the time I crossed the bridge, I knew he wasn't behind me.
    He'd let me go.
     
    *     *     *
    I sent Sasha home in a taxi. She didn't ask the obvious. Instead, she simply told me the girls were already asleep, and then gave me a tight hug before she skipped downstairs to the waiting taxi. I stepped out of my heels and left them by the front door. Barefoot now, I padded down the hallway and checked on Liv and Freya. They were both fast asleep. Liv had thrown off the bed sheet and was sprawled across her bed. Her stuffed fox had fallen on the floor. I crept into the room and picked up the fox, then tucked it into the bed. Sasha had left the window open enough to catch the breeze. Freya had her penguin in one hand while her thumb was planted firmly between her lips. I stroked her burnished curls... my god, how could he give me two daughters, such gifts of love, and still make me feel like there was no love left between us?
    I whispered goodnight to my sleeping daughters and then backed out of the room.
     
    I wasn't sure how long I sat on the sofa, waiting...my face stripped of all the makeup, my dress draped across a chair in the bedroom. I would never wear it again. Now it felt jinxed. I'd changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I'd not had dinner. I should have been hungry...but the mawing sensation in my belly didn't make me want to eat. It was too hot. My skin felt clammy, sticky. I hadn't smoked in over a year but now I wished I could have a cigarette. I longed for the illicit pull of the tobacco. I longed to forget.
    How could he forget? How could I be so easy to forget? He used to remember everything. Every little detail of my life, memorizing it like it held some hidden meaning. He used to tell me he wanted to know everything about me. He'd remember things I'd forgotten. Now it felt like he'd forgotten all the important bits. Maybe he didn't want to remember.
    For the first time in a long time, I found myself thinking about Niklas. He was remarried now. I'd been right all along...he remarried his ex-wife. Sometimes he called me, checking in, he'd say. Often bringing news of Jesper, whom I spoke to often, who came to visit once or twice a