Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"I just don't think he needs to be at the hospital all the time. We're divorced, after all-he's my ex-husband now. There's no reason for him to be hovering around like this."

"Oh, I get it!" Stella tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You're worried that with him taking care of you, you'll end up falling for him again—and then, before you know it, you two are back together?"

Briony rolled her eyes. "Maybe you should go back to grade school and brush up on your reading comprehension."

Stella burst out laughing. "Kidding! I know what you mean, don't worry."

Briony shot her a playful glare. "You're impossible."

"Bryn, he's the father of your child. Even if he's just looking after you as a friend, that's perfectly normal. Besides, he's got resources, and from what Cedric told me, Stewart's not exactly swamped these days. He's got time, and he wants to help out. Why not just let him?"

"It just makes me feel weird."

"Weird?" Stella arched an eyebrow. "What's so weird about it? It's not like you need him to hey! Ow! Did you just hit me?"

Briony glared at her. "You really can't keep that mouth of yours in check, can you?"

Stella rubbed her arm where she'd been smacked, then looked at Briony, falling quiet for a moment before sighing in defeat.

"Bryn, you really haven't noticed how much Stewart's changed?"

"I have."

really don't want to give

up at the

a brand mom deal with all this postpartum craziness-I get it. You and Stewart will always be connected because of your child. And you went through hell together! I heard he nearly lost the use

pressed her lips together, and despite herself, the memory of that day flashed before

watched her closely, but Briony's

her best friend, Stella couldn't tell what

split up on bad terms and both moved on, sure, I'd say there's nothing left between you. But that's not what's

and forget men altogether, while Stewart's clearly had a wake-up call. He's got this whole knight- in-shining-armor thing going on. I mean, he won't push you to get back together, but he wants to look after you as the father of your child. Don't tell me there isn't a little hope mixed in with that. As long as there's love, there's always hope. It's a slow burn, Bryn. Maybe you can turn him down for a year, or two, or even five- but if he never gives up, how long

look out the

sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with

soft. "Growing

her, just making it through this year was uncertain. How could

what weighed

illness had come on so suddenly, so violently, that Stellanet found herself wishing Briony would live a little more selfishly, a little

to stay by your side, just let him. Who cares what he's thinking? The only thing that matters is that you get the care you need. And if you do end up back together, I'll support you no matter what. Honestly, you should stop overthinking it. Get healthy first-if you want

stared at

was only gone a couple of months. How did you suddenly get

onto the abou sighed. "I've been thinking about my life a lot lately.

"Let me guess-'The

her