Never had a smile hurt me that bad

Arlo’s POV

What do you do when your heart plays games on you?

What do you do when you’re losing your mind?

When Lori texted—the real Lori— I feared I might drop dead from excitement of seeing her again.

I feared I wouldn’t be able to look at her without wanting to kiss her. Hold her. And tell her how much I missed her.

Because of those fears, I sought for Ivory’s help.

I married her to keep me in check. To remind me that Lori was wrong for me.

Those were my thoughts. Those were my reasons.

But when I saw Lori, seated on my couch across the room; when she finally resurfaced and our eyes met for the first time in four years. I realized I’d feared for nothing.

I hated the way she sat on my couch.

I hated that she looked down on Ivory.

I hated her cunning and deceitful smile.

I hated her brazen attitude, the way she carried herself like she still owned me.

I hated her hair, her indecent clothes, her poise— the lack of warmth in them.

Hated her audaciousness to waltzed back into