His legs gave out, just dropped him on his ass on the carpet like a big ol’ wuss. And his chest cinched down so tight it stole his breath.

Holy shit. This was why he was still single. Because nothing in the world was worth the pain currently stabbing through every inch of his body.

The future rolled out in front of him like a long, unending carpet while he braced his hands on his knees and sat there for…he didn’t know how long…just trying to breathe. Not a future with a family of his own like he’d envisioned this morning, but him alone, as he’d been for years. Looking out for the only thing that mattered: himself.

He needed to get the hell out of San Francisco. He had to get away from the memories before he lost it for good.

Before he could change his mind, he pushed to his feet, crossed to his closet, and yanked out his bag. He didn’t pay attention to what he pulled from the hangers, just stuffed clothes inside, then went into his bathroom and gathered his toiletries. After throwing on his boots, he came back into the bedroom and bent to zip his bag. Something sharp poked into his hip.

Slowly, he reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring, then just stared at the shimmering diamond. Another wave of agony washed through him, but this one was quickly followed by a burst of anger at his own gullibility.

There were very few things in life a man could control. His heart, however, was one of them.

Fuck relationships. And most definitely, fuck happily ever after.

He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

* * *

Laughter echoed from inside Ryan and Kate’s house in the Sausalito hills. Simone’s pulse beat hard and fast as she stood on the porch, knocked on the door, and waited.

Tears still threatened, but she swiped at her cheeks to clear away the remnants of her breakdown in the car and worked up an impassive expression.

The door pulled open, but one look was all it took for Simone to realize she hadn’t done a thing to fool anyone.

“Simone?” Ryan asked. “What’s wrong?”

Oh no. She wasn’t going to lose it in front of him too. “Nothing,” she said quickly. “I just came to get Shannon.”

“Katie!” Ryan yelled, swiveling his head toward the hall. Then to Simone, softer, “Come inside.”

Simone pushed the hair back from her forehead as she stepped into the foyer of Ryan’s big house. Kate’s voice echoed from the direction of the kitchen, followed by girlish giggles. Her skin prickled with heat. All she wanted was get to Shannon and get the hell out of here.

“What happened?” Ryan asked, closing the door behind her.

“Nothing.” She didn't want to get into it with him. Not only was Ryan Mitch’s brother-in-law, they were best friends; had been since college. “Everything’s fine. I-I just need Shannon.”

“Simone?” Kate’s concerned voice from the hall brought Simone’s head around. Her friend’s worried eyes darted from her to Ryan and back again.

Shit. She was going to lose it if she didn't leave now. “I just came to get Shannon.”

“But I thought—”

“It’s okay,” Ryan said quickly. “Simone, I’ll go grab Shannon’s stuff.”

He squeezed Kate’s arm as he passed, heading for the great room at the back of the house, where the girls were laughing.

Stepping close, Kate rested both hands on Simone’s upper arms. “What happened? What did that brother of mine do to upset you like this?”

“Nothing.” Simone shook her head and swiped at her cheek. Dammit, she felt like she’d cried more in the last hour than she had in the previous year. “He didn’t do anything. It was me. It was all me.”

“Oh, Simone,” Kate said softly.

Okay, that was it. As much as she could take. Her talk with Will, the scene with Mitch… It all came barreling in and robbed her of what little strength she had left. “I can’t talk about it. I just need Shannon.”

“Sure. Whatever you need. We’re here for you.”

Ryan came back down the hall with Shannon’s bag. Shannon followed quickly at his heels, along with Julia, and the two were speaking quickly, obviously curious about what was going on. But the moment Shannon spotted her mother in the entry, her entire face fell, and her feet faltered.

No I missed you, Mom! No I’m so glad to see you! Just hard dark eyes, so much like Steve’s, staring back at her. The kid obviously knew something had happened. She was way too perceptive. And she'd already lived through way more than any ten-year-old should have to experience.

“I thought Shannon was going to spend the night?” Julia asked, looking from one adult to the other.

Thankfully, before Simone could think of something to say, Kate forced a smile and looked down at her daughter, then to Shannon. “Not tonight. Shannon’s mom missed her. We have lots of time for sleepovers. We’ll just reschedule. Shannon, are your shoes in the front closet?”

“Yeah,” Shannon mumbled, but she didn’t look Kate’s way. Her gaze was fixed solidly on Simone, and it was filled with both frustration and disappointment.

I’m doing this for you Simone wanted to shout but knew it would do no good. She’d let everyone down today, and she couldn’t handle one more confrontation. At least not right now. “Say thank you, Shannon.” She took the bag from Ryan. Then she turned toward Kate. “I’ll call you.”

But would she? Probably not. The lies were coming so easily now.

Kate gave her a quick hug. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

Tears threatened again, so Simone pulled quickly out of her friend’s arms and turned for the door. She was aware of voices behind her, but she didn’t care what they were saying. She couldn't. Not anymore.

She climbed into the car while that depressing thought sank in and waited for Shannon to slide into the front seat and latch her seat belt. She knew Kate and Ryan were standing on the front porch looking after her, wondering what had happened, but she didn’t look back. Shoving the car into Drive, she pulled away from the curb and didn’t glance at her daughter either. If she did, she was afraid she’d break. And she’d already broken way too many times today.

They drove in silence back toward the city. Lights rushed by as they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. Only when they were over the water and heading up the steadily rising hills did Shannon finally shift in her seat to Simone’s right.

“You said no, didn’t you?”

Simone’s pulse picked up speed, and she chanced a look at her daughter. “No? Said no to what?”

Shannon crossed her arms over her chest and looked straight ahead. But in the dim lights from the dash, Simone caught the hint of tears in her daughter’s eyes. “I knew you’d say no. You always mess everything up.”

Suddenly, the music, the candles, the special dinner Mitch had prepared, and the reason he’d arranged for Shannon to spend the night with Julia suddenly made sense.

No. No, no, no… He was going to propose tonight?

A sob pushed its way up Simone’s throat, and she pursed her lips to hold it back while she focused on driving through the blur of tears filling her eyes. This wasn't happening. This wasn't her life. In a matter of hours, she couldn't possibly have managed to mess everything up so very badly.

Shannon rolled toward the passenger window and rested her head against the seat. “Sometimes, I wish you weren’t my mom.”

Simone blinked again and again and gripped the wheel, unable to even think of a single thing to ease her daughter’s pain.

Because Shannon was right. She deserved a mother who wasn’t a complete and utter mess.

* * *

“Ryan.”

“I know.” Ryan wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her close on the front porch of their house, not knowing exactly what had happened between Mitch and Simone, but so very thankful it wasn’t happening to him. “She’ll be okay.”

“She’s not the one I’m worried about,” Katie whispered.

No, Simone wasn’t the one Ryan was worried about either. Simone was one of the strongest women Ryan had ever met. She could handle anything life threw her way. And even though she looked like she’d just had the wind knocked out of her, he was pretty sure she’d pick herself up and keep right on going, just like she’d always done. Mitch was another story.

He rubbed his hand down Katie’s back and glanced over her shoulder. Julia stood just beyond the open door in the entry, watching them with worry and a whole host of questions brewing in her eyes. From the direction of the great room, Reed’s laughter echoed. He was still watching the movie, oblivious to everything that had just happened.

Ryan nodded for Julia to go back into the house with her brother.

She frowned but was smart enough to listen. Though she was old enough to know what was going on, he didn’t want to talk about her uncle in front of her. The two had a special relationship, one he didn’t want tainted by any of this.

The door closed softly behind Julia, and Ryan drew back from Katie, looking down into her soft green eyes. “I’ll go check on Mitch.”

“I should go with you.”

He brushed his thumb across her silky cheek. “I can guarantee he won’t like that.”

“But—”

“I know a thing or two about how a guy’s feeling when he’s just lost everything, babe.” When her eyes darkened, he added softly, “Trust me on this. He’s not going to want to talk to you or anyone else. I’ve been where he’s at.”

“Oh, Ryan.”

She moved back into him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her face against his chest. And as he held her tight, her heat seeping in to warm him from the outside in, he remembered all those years after he thought she’d died, when he’d wanted to die himself just to get rid of the pain. The only thing that had saved him was Julia. Mitch had no one.