nged afte

, laughter faded, and the streets belonged to those wi

morning when he stepped o

self he was restless, nothing more. In truth, his unease was the result of guilt

guide him. The atmosphere carried the faint scent of rain and old

r midnight,

pressed together, whispering as if the world might overhear them. Julien l

wly beneath him, dark and patient, as if it had all the time in the world. Julien

no one expected anything from him. No charm requ

ng felt d

rned uninvited. You

ked her. That was the problem. Liking led to attachment. Atta

nt always demand

sent. The bookstore woman's message sat unread

hair pulled back loosely. Calm eyes. A voi

al questions. That alone sh

d

before stepping inside. The warmth wrapped around him immediately,

usual?"

ck and took a se

ked. A woman a few seats away glanced at him, her interest clear. She

. Normally, this would be enough. Normally, he would lean close

ht, he st

he pattern had sto

hone

w me

one he e

get home

la

adn't expected her to message him. Usually, women eithe

onse. Deleted i

ope you

n, inadequate, but

ping dots appeared. Then s

wrote. I just wish you'd told

n swa

n't re

who he was. Or maybe he had-behind charm

face down and f

hind him as he stepped back into the street. His reflec

toward the quieter streets, where the buildings

urfaced un

her hands wrapped around a mug she wasn't drinking fro

uietly, "loving someone isn

pretended n

eath a streetlamp, the

without thinking, and opened the mes

tions. Jus

ng while, Julien didn't kn

ped s

enjoy

the words, th

y good at e

g, then sent the message be

came min

kes two

ath he hadn't realiz

asn't an invitation. It wa

is chest shifted-small,

didn't ask him to change. It simply refl

Julien wondered-briefly, dangerous

t in on

th one