's

ike that." A high, keening moan. "Oh,

compared to the raw, tearing ache spreading through my

A rhythm that was supposed to be mine. "God, never. Why ar

as this bee

length of his back. Her long nails dug into his

s her

oven bracelet. Blue, green

same one I

o we always carry a piece of eac

lding my hair back when I was sick and me staying up all night to help he

p tore out o

roken and

came. "Mary. Wha

like her skin had burned him. Like he

s, grabbing for the sheets

him. Not with the sw

pread around herself,

t what happened," Nathan

hen I tur

happened?!" My voice rose, cracking on the last

ted, taking a step toward me. "You

ng the blanket fall. She d

Your friends were all laughing at you for being with a waitress." She looked rig

han snapped, his voic

't. She s

round her is exhausting! All she does is whine about how unfair life is!" Her next word snapped something in me. "Her mot

. I lunged forward and slapped her, hard. He

her head into the nearest wall. Over and over again. My vi

ill her!" Nathan grabbed my ar

d humiliating. I couldn't stop them. I couldn't

breathe. I

just as Nathan re

e," I choked out. "I hat

oring the stunned faces in the doorway.

stepped directly into my

oser." A familiar, high-pitched voi

ng

at me, a cold s

was fucking your boyfriend, huh?" She tsked. "God, you're hopeless. Rig

hink. I sho

nks. Glass shattered. Liquor splashed across her dress and on

ran out the front door, and

I noticed the sk

it start

ly around myself. The rain soaked my thin dress, m

break free when I sat on a swing. Ugly,

rse. I fumbled with numb

" Her voice was bright, impatient. "I know I sai

sto

, are you crying? Are you outsid

" I whispered, my voice ra

re ar

a p

know how

o my underwear. A warm blanket was wrapped around my shoulders

on the couch. She was already in her pajamas. Guilt con

my mouth to apologi

me. Just tell me what happened. You were supposed to b

urring the steam rising from m

ke that the other day. I thought she was joking." She reached for her

ice low and tired. "Nathan

"Mary? Your Mary? Your bes

at the ceiling. "I'm such a fool. And a bad daughter. All because of that stupid

one could ask for. You deserved something nice for yourself, even if it... didn't go how you planned.

ing kicked out of school? Had

an opening. A secretary or assistant position. It didn't require a degree, just s

t would a company like Blackwood Holdings want with a universi

eyes pleading. "Ari, please don't shut this down before it even starts. Let's

self hope. Not that