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."

don't want to

convent," Briony muttered, staring up at the ceiling.

hardly Stewart's biggest fan, but as a woman—and a brand mom deal with all this postpartum craziness-I get it. You and Stewart will always be connected because of

lips together, and despite herself, the memory of

but Briony's expression

her best friend, Stella couldn't tell what

moved on, sure, I'd

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

turned to look out the

was a brilliant blue, dotted

head, her voice soft. "Growing old...

it through this year was uncertain. How could she

weighed on

so violently, that Stellanet found herself wishing Briony would

wants 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.

stared at

was only gone a couple of months. How did you

"I've been thinking about

teased, "Let me

shot her