ough the soles of my heels, a rhythmic re

weight!" my best friend, Sarah, shouted over

ring for the last three hours. "To freedom," I echoed, tilting the glass

know that every time a slow song played, I could still feel Julian's hand on the small of my back. They didn't know that the "settlement" check si

e DJ is about to p

ooler here, dimmed by velvet wallpaper and soft gold lighting. I didn't head for the restroom. Instead, I pus

and aged bourbon. I leaned against the back of a

ssed loneliness, of being a secret, of being discarded for a woman who "fit the image." I gripped the leather until my knu

of my own grief that I di

shadow moving in the

pheral vision-large, steady, and hol

ed the arm up. He was sitting in the shadows of a high-backed wing chair, a glass of amber liquid re

heeks with my palms, only making the black streaks wor

" a voice rumbled. It was deep, smooth, and held

y-sharp and unexpected-snapped through my skin. I took the handkerchief; it w

whispered, dabb

lightly, the dim light catching the sharp line of a jaw and eyes tha

up through the sadness. "You

st how much he towered over me. He was broader than Julian, more imposing, with an aura of raw power that made the penthou

ed. "How do yo

ndkerchief. You look like you might need it again before the night is over."I clutched the silk handkerchief

gly handsome, but in a way that felt dangerous-like a storm barely held in check by a three-piece suit. "And while

're too late. He's already moved on to his 'perfect' bride.""Is that what you think she is?" A ghost of a smirk played on his lips. He walked over to the small bar in the

park flared, but this time I didn't pull away. I took a sip,

ng against the bar with an effortless grace. "He thinks he traded up. In reality, he just

th an intensity that made me forget how to breathe. "And I'm not confident. I'm just observant. For instance, I noticed that you've been 'smi

escape me-the first one in weeks. "Is th

expression softened. "There. A real smile. It's a start. It's mu

like a secret weapon being handed to me. For the first time since sig

ing the glass down. "My fri

ut remember, Maya-the next time you want to cry, do i

his voice caught me at

Consider it a down payme

me anymore. I felt the weight of the silk in my pocket-a blue promise from a man wh