Chapter 15

Mark was awake when he heard Abby return from work around seven AM. Yawning and stretching, he rose from the bed, a smile tugging at his lips when he saw the two cats curled up at the end of his bed.

He'd tossed and turned for hours after getting home last night. He'd wanted to tell Abby everything about Tina, and yet the last thing he wanted was her pity. His pride had forbidden him from talking about how the woman he'd once loved had betrayed him with another man. So why the sudden need to confess all?

What did it say about Mark himself, that his former girlfriend had thrown him over for his best friend? He wondered sometimes if he hadn't caused Tina to stray. If he'd paid more attention to her, if he'd told her how much he'd loved her, if he'd been charming and funny and everything Aaron had been, maybe things would've been different.

He wondered if he could expect love from any woman when he felt like he was damaged goods.

He heard Abby go to her room. He went to the kitchen to