FIFTY

BRAD WAS not okay. And the dark circles under his eyes told the story of his sleepless night. He'd pretended to be busy with work, but he'd really just been waiting for Doris to return home with her date. And they'd arrived a little too late. As if his anticipation wasn't bad enough, he had to witness the couple's goodnight kiss right in front of the house. And she didn't even try to stop it. Brad felt like his heart was being ripped out. It was a pain he'd never felt before.

But he refused to show the pain, refused to give her the satisfaction of affecting him. Instead, he just clenched his jaw and turned away, closing the window he had been watching them through. He could hear them in the driveway, their muffled laughter taunting him. And even as he locked himself in the bedroom, he could still hear the echo of their voices, laughing and whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Now, he needed no more proof that they were now together. Well, if that was the case. . .

He