It had been half an hour after they’d been declared married. He’d spent half that time in the back of their limo making out with his beautiful new wife, enjoying himself immensely, and also enjoying pissing off his parents, who wanted his and his wife’s asses in front of the photographer.

But as that photo was taken, he was standing to the photographer’s left and it had been all about Carissa. All about how sure he was about her right there in that beautiful gown. All about how sure he’d always been that they would have that, him in a tux, her in a wedding dress.

He’d been happy, happy for himself, happy for her, and because of that he’d been teasing her. He’d made her laugh and the photographer had snapped the picture.

I can’t stand the sight of you.

He swallowed, staring at the album.

That had been Aaron’s favorite shot. He liked it up front. He’d never said anything, but whenever he opened that album, that was precisely the picture he wanted to see.

Carissa looking beautiful and happy, laughing because he gave her that.

He liked to tell himself that was what he intended to give her for the rest of her life, even when he knew he was on the path to becoming his father, so he also knew it was a fucking lie.

He’d dicked her around. He knew that too. It was like he couldn’t help himself.

His father told him it happened. “You just have to get it out of your system, son. You’re young. You will. When you do, if she’s worth having a Neiland and knows what’s good for her, she’ll be there. Trust me.”

So he always knew, in the end, it would be her.

He was just so ridiculously arrogant, he didn’t know, in the end, for her it shouldn’t be him.

His mind filled with her weeping in Carson Steele’s arm.

I’ve loved her since high school, man.

Aaron slugged back more gin and stared at the photo.

You gotta drag her down, that’ll suck, but I’ll pick her back up.

Carissa stared up at him.

Laughing.

You gotta rip her apart, I’ll fuckin’ hate watchin’ it, but I’ll put her back together.

He threw back the last of the gin.

Push her to the point she can’t stand the sight of you. But do it knowin’ that’s all on you. Just like everything that went before, it’s all on you.

Fuck, the asshole was right.

He never should have allowed his father to come that day. He had no clue what he was thinking. He wasn’t seventeen and going to the principal’s office.

He was fucking twenty-six and going to a meeting to negotiate his son’s future.

As uncomfortable as it was, as hideous as it felt coming to the realization, Aaron had no choice. Too much was at stake with the most important parts of that being the happiness and well-being of the woman he loved and their child.