Ex-Husband's Regret

Harper.

I get out of bed feeling like I've been run over by a track. I didn't get a stitch of sleep yesterday. You could tell by how sluggish and slow I was this morning.

Looking at my phone, I see that it's a little past five in the morning. I know that I won't be able to go back to sleep so I just get up. Gabriel had told me that he had a gym, so I put on some leggings and a sport bra and then leave my room.

I had a long day ahead of me. Today is Monday, and it'll be Lilly's first day at school. I wanted to be the one to take her. She seemed a bit nervous when she went to sleep, but she tried downplaying it.

The only thing that gave her comfort was knowing that Noah would be with her. She had told me that Noah had promised to introduce her to all his friends. It was so sweet and kind of him. It was clear that he was raised right, and given how kind Ava was towards me, I didn't expect anything else.

I walk through the still dark hallways trying to maneuver my way to the gym. I remember Gabriel telling me it was on the top floor so that's where I head.

On my way, I pass by Gabriel's room and for a moment I stop. Don't look at me like that. I have no freaking idea why I stopped. There was just something that pulled me to a stop. There was no light and sound so he was probably still asleep.

I literally have to force myself to move. The last thing I wanted was him waking and finding me outside his door standing there like a creep.

Within minutes, I find the locked doors. The lights were on, but I don't think anything about it. I realized that he sometimes works out at night, so maybe he forgot to switch them of yesterday.

I open the door and step inside. I freeze in my trucks. Gabriel was definitely not asleep.

Instead, he was t-shirtless on the treadmill. I swear I could see sweat dripping down his chest and, fuck did it do things to me.

I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. I couldn't stop staring at his wide chest or the muscles that rippled underneath his skin. My eyes were fixated on him. Drinking him up like they were thirsty.

"You done staring? Or should I flex my muscles and give you more of the show" his arrogant filled tone, pulls me back to the present.

on the damn thing. Shit. He'd stopped and he'd

I mutter, stepping further

probably red

says with a tinge of

start my workout. I've haven't seen Gabriel since he

to ask him where he was going. Who he was going with. I wanted to remind him that

he was doing or more specifically, who he was doing. My mood didn't improve when I woke up the next day, and he still wasn't home. I didn't see him the whole day and went to sleep without laying my eyes

he was now though, and I don't even know what to act or react. Should I ask? But then that will just come off as

The need for answers was

I've haven't seen you since Saturday" I

pretending that I was looking at the weights, trying to decide which one I

just ask what you really want to ask without beating around the bush,

him move.

I ask, pushing the

take in a sharp breath before turning around. I gasp

eyes. There

realize it was a storm I was

"No

because if

finish my sentence. "What would you

do I realize that he'd cornered me with nowhere else to

and I'm not going to breach the contract," he says before adding. "Though, you must realize how this is fucking hard for me given

to push against him, but