v

ipping off the roll sliced th

sound that perfectly mat

. She worked with a violent precision, smoothing c

t me, her focus entirely on the fabric. She was trying to st

," I

ur wedding photo sat on the mantel, mocking

d up th

en too dramatic, too emotional, and I

e photo, and slid it into the shredd

efficient. Michael's smiling fac

ce down on the table. A tom

study. We cle

ger. It felt empti

d the front

ith fear, but with a sud

holding a massive

smile that used to make my knees we

ice smooth. "Sorry about last night. Wor

sto

ed like barricades. He

t me, then

he asked, his voice

the flowers as a peace offeri

sharp s

oying and sweet-hit me lik

" I cho

ting the expression of a kicked pu

reaching out to touch my

d his ha

like a gunshot

I said, my voice t

oncern vanished instantly, rep

tossed the flowers onto the counter. "Yo

jacket pocket and pu

island. "Go buy yourself something nice. A ne

d at th

metal. It was suppo

s an

e. He thought a piece of plastic could cov

you?" I asked, looking up

ctly styled hair. "Liv, don't be dramatic. I'm t

I asked. "Me? Or

ce wen

flare behind his eyes. But he buried

ut," he said, shaking his head. "You'

hone

r it, but his body shifted toward the doo

"It's the investors. We can talk

e card back fr

s here for when

d and wa

her was there. He didn't ask

wanted t

t into his car. Through the passenger

fed dinosaur.

is car. He didn't allow fo

allowed

I sank to the flo

me, stronger and more

room and retched until

r, shivering, wiping my mou

knew this feeling. My siste

cabinet und

o. Before the photos surfaced. Befo

k the

d three

t longer than the three

d up th

li

ear. Und

d that was half-

y stomach.

fe created by a man who was curren

old me he didn'

He lied about the kid. He

was carry

went down, letting the d

didn't c

nt straight

as playing father to a bo

alked back to t

ting. She saw the

word. She just

to them and

olve started to form in my

suit jacket, hanging over the b

abbe

the kitche

into the garbage, right on top of t

get to know,

oked at me,

out the baby," I said, my