by S. Moose
“Madison. Please look at me.” His voice is quivering, and it’s breaking my heart all over again. The emotional ball in my chest grows. “Madison. I am begging you. Please listen to me.”
I flinch. “No. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me forgive you. You betrayed me. I can’t ever trust you.”
Bryce’s head drops, and he sags against the wall until his body hits the floor. I hate how much pain he’s in, but I can’t allow his pain to make me want to heal him. I’m broken too. Two broken people can’t heal each other. This is just another form of his games.
Of his manipulation.
“You promised.”
I scoff. “And you promised to love me and never lie to me. Look where that’s gotten us. I want you out of my life. Don’t ever speak to me again. We’re done. Over.” The finality of the word hits me in the gut.
His eyes meet mine, and they’re swimming with fierce and sad emotions. The tears pool in his eyes, and soon, I’m crying again too. “No. Don’t say that. We’re going to get through this.”
I shake my head. “We’re not. Please go, Bryce. There’s nothing you can do or say to make me feel better.” The distress washing over his face hammers like a nail in my heart. “You knew who I was the night we met.” A thought comes to me. “Were you the one who threatened Kent?”
“I love you, Madison. I never meant to hurt you. As soon as I made the deal with your dad, I opened the file and saw your picture. I knew I had to protect you and make you mine. That night at the bar, I knew who you were, and I made sure you’d be the one walking into my office. I know I had a plan to get you and knew about you from your father, but as soon as we met, you turned my world upside down, and that’s all the truth. No games. No manipulating.”
“And with Kent?”
Bryce doesn't say anything. His lack of responding tells me exactly what he can't. “He wasn't right for you.”
“That wasn't your decision to make. You manipulated everything. I don’t believe you.” My voice shakes, and I will myself to stay strong. “Just please go. Now.”
“I need you. You’re my world. The air I breathe. Everything good in me is because of you. When I lost Blaire, I lost myself, but then you found me. You brought me back to life.”
I can’t hear this anymore. “Get out!” I scream, and the tears continue streaking my face, rapidly falling from my eyes.
“If I could change how we met, I would, but I’ll never change loving you. You’re a part of me like I’m a part of you.” I want to believe his words are sincere, but how can I? I can’t open myself to his cruel games once more.
“No!” I scream again and point my finger at my chest. “You’re gone. Out of my heart. I don’t love you.”
“Don’t say that,” he begs, gripping his chest and crying with me. “Please, you can’t.”
Bryce gets up and walks toward me. I spring from the bed and refuse to let him near me. “I love you. Baby, I love you so much. You’re my fucking heart and soul.” He drops down to his knees and grabs my waist. His tear-streaked face presses into my belly. Part of me aches to stroke the top of his head and soothe him, but I can’t. I have to be strong.
“Goodbye, Bryce,” I calmly say and wish he’d leave me alone. “The damage is already done and can’t be fixed. We’re done.” I step out of his soul-crushing hold.
“No.” He shakes his head.
I hold the door open, signaling he needs to leave. “Goodbye, Bryce,” I say again, keeping my strength and knowing there’s nothing else he can say.
He searches my face and sees nothing.
There’s no hope.
There’s no light.
The door closes. I hear him talking to Henry, then the front door closes, and I let myself crumple. I let myself sob and scream because this pain will never go away. The only man I’ve truly loved is out of my life.
He broke me.
He destroyed all the light I had in me.
The girl I am has a black heart. There isn’t room for love to grow there anymore.
Our love is dead.
And soon he’ll be out of my heart …
Show and Tell Duet
Bryce and Madison’s story continues in Show Me How, the final installment of the Show and Tell Duet.
Keep reading for a sneak peek...
Show Me How - Chapter 1
Bryce
“Daddy loves his Princess.” I lean down and press a soft kiss on my beautiful daughter’s forehead. “Today you’re three months. It’s been three months since you came into my life and made me a better man. I love you, Blaire.”
Soft music plays in the background as I rock my daughter to sleep. I’ve read two stories and she’s calmer than an hour ago. I could sit here forever while holding her in my arms. There’s no better feeling than cradling your life in your hands.
Blaire’s my world.
My heart.
My saving grace.
I didn’t know a love like this can exist. I never thought I’d want to be a father and now I have Blaire and she’s everything. My world feels at peace. Life feels steady. Everything I’m doing is for her.
The door closing gets my attention. I don’t allow Tiffany’s departure to ruin this moment. We’re living together for the sake of Blaire. I care about Tiffany, but I can’t love her the way she loves me.
After an hour, I place Blaire in her crib and grab a blanket from her drawer. It’s a little cold tonight and the heat isn’t warming her room. That’s something I’ll have to check tomorrow.
She’s lying still, and I wonder what she’s dreaming about. I stare at my daughter making sure she’s tucked in before placing another kiss on her forehead and whispering, “I love you, Blaire.”
“Blaire!” I thrash around on my bed, willing myself to wake up, and get out of my nightmare. “Blaire! Daddy’s so sorry,” I cry, and the sobs wrack my body. “Daddy’s so sorry, Blaire. Please don’t hate me, Princess. Please don’t hate me.”
“Mr. Hunter, I am so sorry. We’ve done everything we can. There’s no brain activity. It’s been a week, sir.”
I grip the wall to hold myself up. “What am I supposed to do?” I whisper, and feel Tiffany stand by my side.
“We have to let her go,” she says in a low tone. “We have to let her go,” she repeats and my shattered heart turns to dust.
The doctor leads us into her room and my beautiful Princess will never grow up. She’ll never get to talk or get ready for school. I’ll never be able to enjoy her firsts – crawling, walking, or talking. I’ll never get to see her grow up to be a remarkable woman.
Everything’s gone.
Everything’s gone.
Everything’s gone.
Tiffany and I stand on both sides of Blaire’s hospital bed. The only noise besides the beeping from the machines are sobs from us. Sorrow fills me, and I don’t know what to think or what to say.
“Sir?” the doctor says.
I nod, and I don’t move. There’s no possibility of me to turn off the ventilator. I can’t do it.
Minutes pass before they pronounce her time of death.
10:37 AM.
I’m watching the nurse remove the wires from my daughter and she asks, “Mr. Hunter would you like to hold her?”
“Please,” I barely say the word. “Please.”
It’s only Blaire and I in the room. Tiffany’s gone and I’m not sure where she went.
I pick up my world and kiss her again. One last time. “Goodbye, Princess. Daddy’s so sorry. Please don’t hate me. I love you so much and I’ll never forget you. Please don’t hate me, Blaire.” I hold her to my body and breathe in her baby scent.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“Blaire!” I wake up in a pool of sweat. The room’s dark and my head is pounding. Reaching over I grab the tumbler and drink the last remnants of the whiskey.
I look to the side of the bed.
Empty.
Madison's gone.
The lies and secrets I kept from her made her leave me. It's my own fucking fault she's gone.
I wipe my tired face with my hand and get out of bed to pour more whiskey into my glass.
Everything feels empty without her here. The house is quiet. It's been five days and she hasn't returned any of my texts or calls. Henry's telling me to give her space and give her time.
Sipping the whiskey and welcoming the burn it brings, I sit down on the couch in my living room while staring at the Chicago night sky.
Gripping the tumbler in my hand, I lean my head back, hoping closing my eyes will allow me a few minutes of peace.
“Tell me you’re not going to leave me.”
“I’m not leaving you, Bryce.”
Blinking my eyes open, my pulse races with the memory of Madison. Squeezing my eyes shut, I'm trying to catch my breath, and hold it fucking together. Getting up from the couch, I take the stairs one by one until I reach my bedroom and walk into the bathroom.
Placing the glass down, I turn on the faucet and let the warm water run before splashing it over my face. I grip the edge of the sink with my hands and drop my head forward. I let out a heavy breath before lifting my head. I see the man in the reflection before me.
“No. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me forgive you. You betrayed me. I can’t ever trust you.”
Her words are all I hear.
“And you promised to love me and never lie to me. Look where that’s gotten us. I want you out of my life. Don’t ever speak to me again. We’re done. Over.”
“Madison,” I murmur her name in the silence.
“You’re gone. Out of my heart. I don’t love you.”
“Fuck!” I roar and pull back, picking up the tumbler and throwing it against the wall. The anger isn't residing. I look to the mirror again, pull back my arm and swing it forward, watching the glass shatter. The cracks in the mirror aren't breaking. I punch the mirror repeatedly. The pain isn't registering in my mind. My body's numb to the pain. Numb to it all.
Once I'm done, I see the shards of glass everywhere. The mirror's gone. My chests heaves and I drop my head again.
Blood pours from my hand. There's blood all over the sink and bathroom floor. I'm not wincing from the pain or rushing to get my hand cleaned.
Walking out of the bathroom, with blood dripping from my hand, I languidly head down the stairs and to the bar, not caring about a glass. Taking what I need, I toss the cap on the floor and bring the decanter to my lips.
Show Me How will be releasing May 2018.
This will be the final book in the Show and Tell duet.
About the Author
S. Moose is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of new adult romance. She writes emotional and romantic stories that will make you swoon, cry, yell, laugh, and love.
She is living her own happily ever after with a man who loves her with his whole heart. She is a proud mother to their beautiful son, and adorable puppy.
When she is not writing you can find her hanging out with her family, and friends, getting lost in romantic books, and indulging on Starbuck lattes.
To keep up with the latest from S. Moose be sure to visit her social media sites:
Website: https://www.smooseauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S.Mooseauthor/
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/518395751839597/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s_moose0609/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/S_Moose060912
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-moose
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/2Gm5b