drop in air pressure before a storm. The music was still playing-a

as the echo of that

iber is no

table. A few drops of red liquid splashed onto

de her knees weak. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't let him ruin my birthday

ed. She pulled away from his touch.

ve the matching vest, but he still looked the part of the dashing artist. "Le

aggle of women in sequins and m

f them yelled. "Forget the h

e into Catarina's hand. An

s), cut the jazz and faded in the int

least, the song Atticus a

He looked at her with that intensity that she had spent three years pining for

cal. He moved closer to her, invading her personal space, cr

re's only you

nes came out to record

ips. She knew the words. She had sung t

h, her eyes darted to her

een was

rry, Cat." No "Are you ma

ld be promising to buy her a new dress, promising to make it up to her.

Not

bright..." Atticus sang

missed

ne. Was he hurt? Chloe sai

why didn't h

codependent. He couldn't make a decision about dinner without asking her

just out of chara

spered, covering t

, snapping back to reality. She

but her voice was flat. She w

before he masked it with a passionate high note that drowned her out. He stepped in fro

lite but enthusiastic. Atticus beamed, b

ook a half

physical rejectio

ir for a second before he smoothly conve

, his breath smelling of expe

er. A tray of shot

handing her a glass. "To us. An

he smell of the tequila hi

omach

ila on an empty stoma

He would have swapped this for a glass of water or ordered her some t

w about her ulcer.

rowing his shot back, laughing with her

too much. The laughter sounded shril

a said, putting th

Atticus

. She grabbed her clu

nded. "It's barely ten o'cl

"And I need to see if... I ne

abbing her arm. His grip was a little too tight.

at his hand on her

ticus," she

ng his hands up in mock surrender.

orrow," she said,

ng Chloe's frantic wave. She marched tow

going hom

going to scream at him until he broke, until

phone-hanging-up Jorden-terrified h