Gretchen needed Jax’s kiss. She needed to feel their physical connection to prove they still shared a spark after all these years. She needed Jax to remind her she was still alive. Jax’s breath tickled her sensitive lips.

Gretchen awoke with a start, a prominent throbbing between her legs. Sweat beaded her brow and her heart was racing. She started to cry a moment later, burying her face in her pillow so her sobs didn’t grow too loud. There was so much sadness coming at once, Gretchen couldn’t handle it. Her body clearly needed release, and crying was its method of choice.

Sorrow quickly turned to anger, anger that drove Gretchen to her feet. She pulled all her clothes from her closets and threw them on the bed and the floor. Her dresser and wardrobe were next, followed by her shoes. She held her head in her hands while she looked around at the mess.

The door creaked open, and Jax poked her head into the room. “What the hell is going on in here?” Her eyes widened at the disarray. “I just walked through the door, and Amanda sent me to check on you.”

“I was looking for your letters and…” Gretchen picked up a green sweater. “Who wears this?” She picked up a pair of pants and another blouse. “I don’t recognize these clothes. I hate them.”

Jax bobbed her head from side to side. “You became more conservative and professional over the past few years.”

“Who is your girlfriend?” Gretchen said the moment Jax stepped into her bedroom. She was done dancing.

Jax’s mouth flapped but no words came out.

“How easy was it for you to move on?”

“Gretchen…” Jax’s tone was firm, a warning.

“All I want to know is how. How are we here? What happened and how are you already with someone?”

Jax shut the door. “You need to calm down.”

“No. What I need is answers. When did we split up?”

Jax lowered her head and shoved her hands in her pockets. “The end of September.”

“When did you start seeing your girlfriend?”

Jax ran her fingers through her hair. A few strands stayed standing. “October.”

“October?” Gretchen said loudly. “Was it really so easy to replace me?”

“Meredith isn’t—” Jax froze. She exhaled loudly through her nose.

“Meredith?” The name sounded familiar but was hidden deep beneath the blur of the last few weeks. And then it came to the surface, loud and clear with a million possibilities of how and when. “Caleb’s nanny?”

Jax balled her fists. She just stared at Gretchen for at least a minute, but time seemed to stretch on forever in silence. “It’s not like—”

“It’s disgusting,” Gretchen said, turning away from Jax. “You said you didn’t cheat.” She felt like she was being torn apart at the seams.

“I didn’t cheat, and it’s not disgusting. Meredith is twenty-five and brilliant. She was there every day. She talked to me when I got home from work, she helped me potty train Caleb, and she cares about me.”