Novels by Ray Olly

ELARA'S POV"You invited him where?"Maya's voice could probably be heard in the next county. I held the phone away from my ear."To the gallery. Tuesday night. You said you wanted to meet him.""I said I wanted to punch him in the face. That's different." Maya paused. "Wait. Are you serious? He's actually coming?""He said he would.""Elara Chen, have you lost your mind?"I sat down on my couch, suddenly exhausted. "Maybe. Probably. I don't know anymore.""What happened at Pike Place? You said you were going to tell him off and be done with it.""I tried. But he just—" I struggled to find the words. "He's different, Maya. Or he seems different. I can't tell if it's real.""Of course he seems different. He doesn't remember being an asshole. That doesn't mean he's changed.""I know.""But you're hoping anyway.""I'm not hoping. I'm just—confused."Maya sighed. "I'm coming over. Have you eaten?""No.""I'm bringing Thai food. Don't argue."She hung up before I could respond.Forty minut

DAMIEN'S POVI arrived at Pike Place Market thirty minutes early, which gave me too much time to panic.The therapist Dr. Reeves had recommended said I needed to stop trying to control everything. That my need for control had probably destroyed my marriage. I was trying. But standing here waiting for Elara, my hands wouldn't stop shaking.James had called last night after I sent that final text. "You hired a PI? Are you insane?""I needed to know if she'd moved on.""So you had her followed like some obsessed creep? Damien, this isn't you.""How do you know? Maybe this is exactly who I am. Maybe I was always this controlling and possessive and—""Stop. You're spiraling again." James's voice had been firm. "Did you take your anxiety medication today?"I had. It wasn't helping.Now I stood near the fish market, watching tourists take photos, trying to look like I belonged here. Trying not to think about how Elara had agreed to meet me when she had every reason to refuse.Then I saw her.

ELARA'S POV "You're distracted again."I looked up from the inventory list I'd been staring at without actually reading. Marcus stood in the doorway of my office, holding two cups of coffee, his expression concerned."Sorry. I'm fine.""You've said you're fine seventeen times in the past two weeks. At this point, it's lost all meaning." He set a cup on my desk and sat down across from me. "Talk to me."Marcus Chen had been my saving grace when I'd arrived in Seattle broken and lost. He'd given me a job at his gallery, then helped me open my own when I was ready. He was kind, patient, and one of the few people who knew the whole truth about my marriage."Damien came here two weeks ago."Marcus's cup stopped halfway to his mouth. "Your ex-husband? The one who—""Yes." I wrapped my hands around the warm coffee cup. "He had a car accident. He has amnesia. He doesn't remember the last five years.""Jesus. Is he okay?""Physically? I think so. Mentally? I don't know." I stared into my coff

DAMIEN'S POV I flew back to New York feeling like I'd been gutted. James picked me up from the airport, took one look at my face, and didn't ask questions until we were back at the penthouse."That bad?""Worse." I poured myself a drink I probably shouldn't have with my medications, then poured it down the sink. "She told me everything. James, I was a monster to her.""You weren't a monster. You were just—""Don't." I cut him off. "Don't make excuses for me. I read the letter I wrote. I knew I loved her. I knew I was hurting her. And I did nothing."James sat down, loosening his tie. "So what now?""I don't know. She told me to forget I found her. To use my second chance somewhere else.""Maybe you should listen."I looked at him. "Would you? If you'd hurt someone you loved and couldn't even remember doing it, would you just walk away?""That's not fair. You can't remember her. You can't remember loving her. You're chasing a ghost of a feeling."He was right. I knew he was right. But

ELARA'S POV He stood there in the rain looking lost, like a child who couldn't find his way home. I hated that it affected me. I hated that some traitorous part of me wanted to reach out to him."Three years," I said, my voice shaking. "I spent three years trying to be enough for you. Do you know what that feels like? To live with someone who looks through you like you're invisible?""I'm sorry. I know that's not enough, but—""You're right. It's not enough." I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the jacket I was wearing. "You want to understand? Fine. I'll tell you exactly who you were."Damien's face was pale, water dripping from his hair. He looked nothing like the man I'd signed divorce papers with. That man had been composed, distant, untouchable. This man looked like he was barely holding himself together."When we met, you were different. Warm. Attentive. You pursued me like I was the only person in the world. You asked about my work, my dreams, what made me h

DAMIEN'S POV The impact felt like the world exploding.One second I was checking my phone, confirming my London flight details, the next there was screaming metal and shattering glass and my body was being thrown in directions bodies weren't meant to go. The airbag punched my face. Something cracked in my chest. Then everything went dark.I woke up to beeping machines and white walls."Damien? Can you hear me?"A doctor's face swam into focus above me. Middle-aged woman, kind eyes, concern written across her features. I tried to speak but my throat was raw, like I'd swallowed broken glass."Don't try to talk yet. You've been in a serious accident. You're at Mercy General Hospital. You've been unconscious for two weeks."Two weeks?I tried to sit up but pain exploded through my ribs. The doctor gently pressed my shoulder back down."Easy. You have three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and severe head trauma. You're lucky to be alive."Lucky. I didn't feel lucky. I felt like I'd b