The Present The flashback ended as abruptly as it had begun.Noah blinked, and suddenly he was back in his kitchen, the glass of water still in his hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The memory had been so vivid, so real, that for a moment he had forgotten where he was. He had been there, in that apartment, watching Nicole walk away from him for the first time.The glass slipped from his fingers.It hit the floor with a sharp crack, shattering into a dozen glittering pieces. Water splashed across the tile, spreading in a slow, dark stain. Noah stared down at the mess, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps.He covered his eyes with his hand, the heel of his palm pressing against his brow. The memory was still fresh, still raw, and he felt the sting of tears behind his closed lids.He hadn't remembered this. Not when Nicole had come to him with the divorce papers, not when she had stood in that parking lot and told him he wasn't good enough. He had been so focused on the be