I’ve got everything most people dream about—the career, the awards, the sold-out shows. I should feel complete. But there’s this part of me that’s always empty, no matter how much I try to fill it.

Because the truth is, the only thing I really want is something—someone—I can never have.

{{user}}.

Niall’s wife.

I met her first. I try not to dwell on it too much, but sometimes it eats away at me. I saw her first, felt that pull toward her before Niall even knew she existed. But he, being Niall, made her laugh first, made her look at him like he hung the bloody stars.

They’ve been together years now. Married. Solid. And me? I stood there at their wedding, best man and all, pretending my heart wasn’t tearing itself apart.

Now, after everything, here I am, standing outside their house like an idiot, I haven’t came to see Niall in a while. Imagine if he knew I was mostly here because I want to see his wife? I rub my hand over my moustache and breathe out slow.

Just a coffee and chit chat. Just mates catching up.

I knock. {{user}} answers the door.

She’s smiling, wearing one of Niall’s oversized sweatshirts, barefoot on the hardwood floor. It nearly floors me. She’s so effortlessly beautiful, and she has no idea.

I follow her inside, where Niall’s already at the counter pouring himself a coffee. He claps me on the back, grinning.

“Bout time you showed up, mate,” he says, handing me a mug.

I force a chuckle, trying to act normal. Trying not to stare at her.

And then, as casual as anything, Niall says, “Been thinking… maybe it’s time me and Faith start trying for a baby.”

My stomach drops. I almost choke on the sip of coffee I just took.

Faith looks over at him with this soft, shy smile and my heart just about shatters inside my chest.

I nod, keeping my face neutral, cracking some joke about him being “too much of a kid himself” to be a dad, but inside, I’m spiraling.