Ex-Husband's Regret

Lilly was staring at us, her eyes shifting from me to her father. I see the questions in them. The curiosity concerning me and Gabriel.

Like I said, this wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to be attracted to Gabriel after all these years apart. I honestly thought that I'd with my attraction to him. That his treatment of me years ago, had killed everything I had felt for him.

How wrong I was. Here I am, years later, almost kissing him. I feel terrible that I had allowed that one moment of weakness. That I'd allowed myself to be lured by the cravings of my body.

"Were you two about to kiss?" Lilly asks innocently, and I can't help the sharp inhale that I take.

My mind was a mess. I didn't know what to tell her. Should I just tell her the truth? Even so, it's not like I can lie when she literally caught us red-handed.

"Uhm-uhm-" I struggle to find the right words to tell her.

At the back of my mind, I was also worried. Liam is the only man Lilly has ever seen me kiss. The only man, other than Gabriel who has been in my life. What if I say 'yes' and she takes it the wrong way? I know that Gabriel has been trying to build a relationship with her, but for more than five years, Liam has been her dad. I just don't want her thinking that I'm betraying the man who raised her, even though now am married to her biological father.

"Yes" The answer to her question comes from Gabriel.

I turn and glare at him. What is he thinking admitting it to her like that? What is he thinking admitting it in the first place?

Part of me wants to just ignore the whole thing. Pretend that that mistake didn't happen. I am embarrassed that Lilly caught us, but more importantly, I am embarrassed that, at that time, I'd wanted him to kiss me. Craved for him to seal our lips together.

"Oh, okay... can I have breakfast?" she asks, sitting down on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter.

I couldn't tell what she was thinking because her emotions were well hidden. I desperately wanted to know, but deep down I know I can't push her. Not now anyway, when she still hadn't forgiven me for lying about her dad.

her while you have yours?"

here after what happened. I

"Sure" he answers.

the sink, and leave the kitchen. I rush to the safety of my

by Gabriel, that I've done myself an unforgivable wrong. This is the same man that hurt me over and over again years ago. This is the man that broke me and shattered my heart into a million pieces. He did everything to destroy me. Everything to hurt me. He ruined me in the worst possible way. How then

my lesson from what happened years ago? Getting involved with Gabriel will only lead to disaster. I can't risk getting hurt again,

the tears and head to my bathroom. I still had a few hours

highest temperature. Maybe I can burn away the tingling I still felt after his hand made contact with my

I open the door and get out. I am surprised to find Lilly sitting on my bed. "Lilly, is something wrong?" I ask, holding the towel

a conversation with my daughter know that she was angry with me

when I entered, completely ignore me when I talked to her and push me away every time I tried getting close to her. Let's just say it's been a hectic week and I

whispers, the sadness in her voice breaking my already broken

me a second to change" I answer, grabbing the clothes I had

minutes later, I come out dressed and sit next to

sorry" she says in a small voice. "I know I was angry, but I shouldn't have treated you the way I did when you're the

to push back the tears that threatened to fall. I gently grab her hand

didn't mean it when I said I hated you..det was just angry, and

is croaky when I say

apologize, and I hope you can forgive me for being stubborn