Cael walked into Cindy’s room, pleased to see her sitting up in bed, her color better than the previous days. “Hey gorgeous,” he called out, smiling at her. Holding out both hands in fists, he directed, “Pick one.”

Eyes wide, she giggled as she leaned forward, considering each of his large fists carefully. Tapping his right hand, he flipped it over, opening it, exposing another stretchy cap, this time covered in Tinkerbells.

“Oh, I love it,” she squealed and his heart pinged at the excitement from this little girl over a cap that would keep her bald-head warm.

The unfairness of life hit him in the gut, but before he could reel from that, Kathy smiled and said, “Hmm, I wonder what would have happened if you picked the other hand?”

Cindy’s attention turned back to him, now her wide eyes on his still closed left hand. Grinning, he flipped it open as well, offering another cap to her. This one had the princess from Tangled, the images of her with her shorter hair.

She threw her arms out wide and he stepped forward, encircling her frail body in his massive embrace. “Love you, sweetheart,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion.

He looked at Kathy over the top of Cindy’s head, seeing her mouth Thank you. Later, after hearing about Miss Ethel’s visit and story time, he stood at the door with his sister.

“She looks good tonight.”

“Yeah, she’s had a good day. But, then, tomorrow is chemo day again so we start the cycle all over.”

“Oh, fu—” He shook his head, correcting quickly, “I’m so sorry.”

“We’ll see how she does. They now have a better handle on her nausea, so my prayer is that it’ll be easier than last time.”

“Me too, sis.”

She held his gaze and said, “I suppose you haven’t heard from the woman who came here with you? The one you were falling for?”

Shaking his head, he decided to not let her know that he had found her, simply saying, “No. Why?”

“It’s silly, but Cindy keeps asking for the lady with the princess hair. I’ve told her that she was a friend of yours but not a close, best friend you see all the time, but she insists that the two of you are in love.” Shaking her head, she sighed. “Anyway, just ignore me. I know you two aren’t seeing each other anymore. I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m losing my mind. Maybe I just wanted to hear something sweet happening with my baby brother in the midst of all this with Cindy.”

He pulled his sister in for a hug, his gaze landing on the small girl in the big bed, machines connected to her humming away, as she played with her new caps. Irritation that Red had just walked out of Cindy’s life after saying she would be back rolled through him.

Once more, Cael found himself sitting outside of the Dramatic Arts building. His stomach churned as he wondered what he would say. He did not have to wait long before seeing Red exit the building.

She walked a few feet before stopping to adjust the knit cap on her head and secure the scarf around her neck. Climbing from the truck he hesitated for a second, then jogged toward her.

“Regina,” he called out, using the name the other man used.

Regina turned around, her eyes searching for a second for who had called her name before they landed on Titan. Stunned, she stared at the man she never thought she would see again. Her gaze devoured him as her heart pounded. Everything about him was familiar, from his strong jaw to his wide shoulders and chest, covered with a thick, denim jacket, all the way down to his worn jeans and booted feet.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out as her hand shot up, once more adjusting her cap. She had wondered what she would say if their paths ever crossed, but now, a strangled squeak was all that came out, afraid of him noticing the change in her appearance. Glancing back at the building, she never expected to see him standing in front of her workplace.

Cael walked the remaining few feet until he was standing close enough to see each freckle across Regina’s nose. Her face, as familiar to him as his own reflection, appeared pale and her eyes larger than before.

Her lips curved into a slight smile as she peered up at him. “How…how do you know my name?” she asked, confusion in her eyes. Looking around for a few seconds, she added, “And, how did you know where to find me?”

“You said you worked with old movies. I did a little research. It seems there’s not too many places that do that type of work.”

Blinking, Regina glanced from him to the Dramatic Arts building, understanding dawning. “Oh…” She stepped forward, lifting her hand toward him, jerking in surprise when he backed away. Her smile dropped as she stared into his face, confusion still plaguing her.

“I need to ask you a question and I hope to God, you give me the truth. If not for me, then for Cindy.”

“Cindy? Is she alright?”

“As well as can be expected. Of course, it’s hard for a seven-year-old, dealing with cancer, to have to understand when someone makes a promise to visit and then they don’t keep it.”

“I…I’m sorry…but, we made no…promises…you and me…I…”

“No, you slipped out the next morning when I was still asleep. Fucking exhausted and you just left.”

Biting her lip, knowing he did not realize she had heard his words whispered in the night, she said, “It seemed best. You had so much to deal with.”

Nodding, he did not reply and the air between them turned colder. Unsure what to say, she waited.

“Tell me this…the man you were with the other day…the man you stood right here and hugged…kissed…did you know he was married? Married, with a kid, and a pregnant wife?”

She opened her mouth but a gasp was all that escaped. Eyes wide, she stared, stunned into silence, at his hard face. Her mind raced with the implication of what he was asking. He was here…he spied on me…he knows my name…he thinks…oh, my God…he thinks that I was lying… Pain slashed through her, and her hand shot to her stomach as she tried to quell the feeling of nausea hitting her. She sucked in another shuddering breath as her heart beat a staccato in her chest.

Cael’s face was hard, as though carved in marble, as he stared back at Regina, his eyes glittering cold. He watched the play of emotions cross her face. Unable to identify them all, he focused on her wide-eyed, open mouth surprise. Nodding slowly, he stated, “So, you do know the man you are obviously so close with is married.”

Regina’s chest heaved as she swallowed audibly, his accusation filling her being in a terrible, aching way. Drawing herself up to her full height, she said, “Yes. I know all about him. I know he’s married. I know he has a child. I even know his wife is pregnant.”

He reared back, his cold eyes now glacial.

Taking in his expression she pleaded, “Don’t you even want to know how I know all this?”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Cael stalked closer until he towered over Regina, noting she held her ground. He knew it was an asshole maneuver to use his considerable height to his advantage, but he was beyond caring. “No. I don’t fuckin’ care.”

She gaped for a moment before clamping her mouth shut, confusion and softness replaced with determination and a spine of steel. Clenching her fists, she shook with anger.

“You won’t even deny cheating on a cheater,” he breathed out in disbelief.

“Why should I? You’ve already made up your mind.” Shaking her head, she poked him in the chest, her finger right over his heart. “You know me. You might not have known my name when we were together, but you know me. And you think this of me? Judging me so quickly after all the time we spent together?”

He stared, her words catching him off guard. Giving her one last chance to explain herself he asked, “You got any other explanation for what I saw?”

A tear ran down her face and she swiped at it angrily. “I’ve got nothing to say to you. Nothing.” Standing, pale and shocked, she blinked rapidly, refusing to speak.

Though she had her walls up, that tear struck a cord with him. But I gave her the chance to deny what I saw. Two chances, in fact, and she didn’t. She even confirmed she knew about that guy! Firming his resolve, he said, “I was willing to ask for more, ‘cause I thought what we had was real. My friends even convinced me that I needed to find you to see if there was more to us. God, I was a fool.”

Done with everything, he turned and headed back down the street toward his truck, his mind in a whirl. Looking over his shoulder, he called out, “Honest to God, when I think of what that week meant to me…now, knowing I was a chump to think it meant something to you too? I guess for you, no regrets really meant no regrets.”

With that, he threw open the door to his truck and climbed into the cab before gunning it down the road, leaving her standing on the sidewalk, unable to move. Regina slumped against the brick wall for several minutes until a passerby looked at her in concern.

“Miss? Are you okay?”

Startling, she pushed away from the wall and nodded. “Yes…uh…yes.” They continued to stare for a moment before moving on down the sidewalk.

Uncertain of her steps, she walked zombie-like to her car, climbing inside and sitting with her hands on the wheel for a while. Finally blinking back to reality, she started the car and pulled onto the road. The entire way home, she showed no emotion. It was not until she walked up the steps of her townhouse and unlocked the door that she allowed her heart to take over her mind.

Every move she made felt like it was in slow motion. Closing the door, she heard it click as it shut, her hand remaining flat against its surface. A lump was lodged in her throat making swallowing difficult, but it was the sharp pain in her chest that had her lifting her hand, gently rubbing over her heart.

Her chin quivered and she tightened her lips in an attempt to quell the movement. Try as she might to hold it back, with the sob already caught in her throat, a quick inhalation brought it forth. A lone tear slid down her cheeks, falling unheeded on her shirt. Leaning her back against the door, her chest heaved as another sob left her body followed by more tears.

She had no idea how long she remained in that position, flattened against the door while her tears flowed. Blinking, she suddenly looked around, finally noticing her position. She wiped her tears, the slow burn of anger beginning to replace the pain.

Becoming an expert at ignoring pain, she pushed against the door and walked silently into her kitchen before opening the refrigerator. Pulling out the juice, she drank greedily. Wishing it were alcohol, she slammed the glass onto the counter, surprised it did not break.

“Damnit!” she screamed, her anger now morphing into rage. She had never meant for him to know of her sacrifice in the first place, but to have him, the man she had fallen for even though she knew he was unattainable, to berate her with such viciousness…Fuck him! She almost wanted to tell him what she had done for his niece just to see the look on his face when he realized what a dick he’d been. But no, that gift was for the little girl going through something so scary. It wasn’t about the man who took her heart and then shredded it. Stomping through the house, she realized he knew her name and she still had nothing. No names and no regrets? Well, that certainly bit me in the ass!

As her anger stewed, she began to feel a bone-wearing fatigue. Slumping onto her sofa, she pulled the quilt over her, curling up on her side. With a shuddering breath, she willed her mind to still, hoping more sleep would come.