later. Th

he apartment belonged to Sarah's cousin, who was backpacking in

"New social security number request is pending. Name chan

still too raw for anything solid or hot, the smoke da

ointing at the small te

red carpet of the Met

ark circles under his eyes that makeup couldn't quite hide. And on his arm,

st microphones

e! Where

e. "Evelyn is recovering from a minor injury at home. She insis

throwing a crumpled ball

edatory smile. She leaned into Julian, h

at's the Fall collection from two years ago

ah grinned.

trance, as if expecting someone. He had been texting me for forty-eight hours. Demands.

ting. The flashbulbs were blinding. Serena's

exted. She hadn't called to yell at him for bringing

er "space" to cool down-and avoiding the guilt that gnawed at him whenever he

ant, appeared at his

ir

? Did the s

ouse to pick up some files you reques

ut a small, bla

loosened the drawstrings and ti

he had placed on Evelyn

to a dull roar. The champagne

ook i

ally too

in. "Is that Evelyn's? Did she send it

he diamond, the edges digging into his pa

arrison

ulian said. His

nner hasn't

mn car!" Ju

lenses toward him. Julian didn't care. He shoved t

you going?" Seren

off. "Home. I

s. He needed to see her. He needed to see that she was still there, po

if she w

against his ribs like a trapped bird. He p

ave dialed is no

m his fingers and fel