as

was

was

iv

de

miss

ven a

in that black dress with her measur

n't shattere

to me. The room. The bed. The betrayal. The reje

so hard

hought I'd

f believe it. Told myself over and

d

ing here like not

ed. Smaller th

tiful. God, st

d me off more

e still loo

ir something in me ju

he only thing keeping her steady. Her eye

out of the jacke

i

ke she didn't know me.

way to play this. Maybe it

my mouth, my voice sounde

awfull

before I could t

ne faster? I doubt this

for me," Erica

ost s

h other. That

hing, I could play that game. Hell, I c

er expression. But I knew my words had landed. I kne

"She's good at what she does, t

ppose I can put up with someone

he one she practiced in front of mirrors. Th

, quiet, steady. She stretched her hands to take

usted m

along the ba

were on

Stiff. Like she was pretending sh

me like she di

s just an

ver really

sked, sliding the tape from one sh

d know your name tho

ward the door. Swallowe

ra,

. A

cracking somet

said, forcing the anger back down.

once. "A tu

lower. "Please

urn

met in th

t hit

tric

e

u

hated her in silence for years. Told

e, and I could

hate

the measurement

nd and stretch

e arm and w

pped closer.

ear her heartbeat

eeth as my who

rs since she'd

as still

t look good on

ightly. I felt it

rstand what y

se she

e she'd

ered the tape to m

the way

to

my skin st

reath be

wanted her t

ed it

I said. "Afraid of going

ad sna

uth tw

tten t

o

l as I can be," she snapped. "Pl

I was the c

. Her eye

about m

being an ass and

uc

back. Just

ed toward

uldn't mind me telli

y," she s

as still i

around slowly,

ill so eas

legs for me,

aught halfw

the moment it

ked m

actly what

fumbling wi

my thighs. And i

eath c

did

adjust. Tried t

still managed to

not-it did

ened. And sh

n at her, br

swal

d

nto me. To crush her mouth with min

at even more t

she whispered

you don't remem

pposed to b

s bubblin

an

betr

wa

wing its way

nted me to ma

ed, but it di

of it

ept

ill fe

ed to be the worst thing

nd placed the tape

ow what you

," I said through gritted t

or flu

ake bright voice. "I hope

way everything sna

't even notice the tension sli

et back on and wa

"next time I'm here, don't let her near me. Or i

ed. "Did some

ong," I said, eye

s were

didn't

suppose

to handle the rest," I

um

like a slap. I t

ning in. He was a You

lin

ill birthing

a gr

d you not to let your c

not quite a scream. She w

ed at

and smoothed his hair while

"I'm sorry for the disturbance," sh

nd you won't need to keep a

en took the boy's arm and

at child," Erica grumb

there.

ad a

a freaki

apart, stuck in memories of her

er man and st

e actua