He took her hands, kissing the tips of her fingers.

She noticed the gold band she’d presented to him on their rushed wedding.

“You’re wearing your wedding ring.”

“I want you to know I’m serious, and I’m not going to let you go. I’m going to take this fresh start.” He kissed her again, and she smiled but she didn’t feel it.

He was being attentive, loving, nice. Everything she could ever want, but it wasn’t enough.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll warm up some more popcorn.”

She walked slowly to the stairs, taking them two at a time. Rushing into her room, she went straight to the bathroom. Gripping the edge of the sink, she took deep breaths.

Closing her eyes, she rested her head on the rim as her heart pounded.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.”

She really wasn’t fine.

Squeezing her eyes tightly, she tried to push out the pain. If she didn’t think of Preacher with another woman, she was safe.

As she rubbed at her chest, the pain only stayed.

Minutes passed, and finally, she lifted her head, staring at her reflection. Her face bright red. She touched her cheeks.

“I’m fine.”

They were all lies. She hadn’t been fine for a long time. She didn’t think she’d ever be fine again.

Bishop wore his wedding band, and for the first time since she’d gotten married to him, she felt trapped. Staring down at her arm, she frowned, seeing the scar that had never fully healed from when he’d taken her out of the classroom.

That one memory seemed a million miles away.

They’d grown apart in the past couple of months.

Was it her fault? Had she pushed him away?

She’d been so consumed by the baby, and Bishop, he’d been so caught up in who the baby’s father was.

She touched her stomach only to immediately pull her hand away. She hated touching her stomach more than anything. It was a cold reminder of what she didn’t have.

She splashed water on her face, trying to clear her head, but nothing worked. If anything, since losing her baby, she’d felt so much more confused than ever before.

When she joined Bishop on the sofa, he’d put on another scary movie.

That was Bishop all over, doing what he wanted without a care for anyone else. At least some things didn’t change.

****

The men who’d ran him and Robin off the road had been a little tricky to find. For the most part, he hadn’t been able to get a good look at the car, or the people. Everything had happened so fast.