's

ning until it hurts. The skin where my ring

st time all night, I realize, I

omes out. My throat burns, and all I ca

"Come on. What movie

pe under my ey

y bag and rests a hand on the small o

ays quietly. "I'

makes me feel even smaller. I take out my phone, hoping to distrac

inks. He act

n, but before I can cry, Micah is back with

He raises a b

smile tugs at my

ve it," he says, ha

by side towar

I stop short. "Wait

the third row. "I figured y

didn't...buy the who

he seat beside him. "Come on, I know you w

anyway. "You'

miling again,

y to forget everything. The sound of the movie fills the space between us. I ev

ughter

him, but he's alre

heek self-consciously. "Do

ttle. "Yeah.

k, his large hand cupping my face. His fingers are wa

ince anyone touched

t pull

ed, Eva?" he

ing back a li

ou and

my throat. "We're..

rise. "He

y head. "

se flashing across his featu

other," I murmur. "But he's not

m. Even now, that b

't run out, Eva. Respect did.

"You don't kn

ezing your accounts and letting you

, please. I don't want t

this, where ar

rce a small smile.

aves no room for a

, plea

" His voice softens,

"A cheap hotel, okay?

hes the pale mark where my ring used to be. "Your account

n I'll start applyin

me," he say

eze.

an stay there until you figure things out

"No, Micah. If th

interrupts softly. "Just let me tak

houl

y face toward him. "Let me cook for you. Run

ly gentle. It's the kind of look that makes

f his jaw, the warmth in his b

" I whisper, h

"You're scared of b

part.

outh. "Then relax. I'm only g

ally do. But something in h

. "But I'm not st

." His smi

icah stands, grabs my bag, and off

hen we step outside. Hi

g, sir.

ide. The leather smells fa

rough his phone; I'm staring out the window, pret

empty. No messages

al St

nly rests on my t

ays softly. "Y

lie, but my vo

brushes against my skin, slow and

eins running like ri

, I trace one wi

es sharp

ps sends a shiver down my spin

ayal still stings, yet here I am,

When the car stops in front of his house, the dri

r of u

, then trail slowly down to my ankle.

rs, voice rough. "The

don't know wh

ens, burning through me. "Te

y ears. The air betw

leans closer, his breath fanning my lips, all

t me,"

. His eyes are molten, filled with som

." My voi

s, his breath brush

s tumble out. "I need to forget