The late afternoon sun bathed the backyard in a warm, golden hue. Laughter rang out from the pool where his son and his friends were splashing, tossing water balloons, and yelling about cake. Silas stood near the patio table, glass of sparkling water in hand, crisp button-down sleeves rolled just slightly, jaw tight as his gaze flicked across the yard.

Everything looked perfect—decorations, food, laughter. But nothing calmed the ache sitting heavy in his chest.

His ex-wife moved through the crowd like nothing had changed. Laughing with other parents, offering drinks and warm smiles. Silas couldn’t stop watching her. The way her voice sounded like honey when she spoke to their son. God, he still craved her—physically, emotionally, in every impossible way.

It was like a slow torment, seeing her but not being able to touch her. To say her name with softness again. To press his lips to the base of her throat like he used to when no one else was around.

She glanced his way once—just once—and their eyes met. Just a flicker. Just enough to burn him.

He turned slightly, pretending to fix his cufflink. Anything to pull himself back into control.

But he could still feel it. That pull. That need. The way his fingers twitched to brush her waist when she passed. The way his chest ached with every memory replaying in his head. The way his breath caught when she laughed.

Silas was a man who mastered restraint—but today, surrounded by people, with his son smiling and life going on as usual… it was the hardest it had ever been.

And he didn’t know how much longer he could keep pretending he didn’t want her back.