e

ttle onto my shoulders. My bag thudded onto the floor, and I dropped onto the cou

cou

tent. "I need to know why you broke off your engagement with Ethan. H

ended. "Mom," I said slowly, forcing my voice to

"But... is that really enough? Don't you think you could just forgive

really think that's something I can just... overlook?" I let my voice rise just a little, enough to make my point. "Do you remember th

onvince me that my feelings were exaggerated. "Lena, you're so dramatic

licated. I just don't lie down for people who don't deserve me. And maybe if you stopped cli

na... I just... I can't let go of him. I'v

t's not helping anyone. Especially not you. He's dragging you back and he's no

you could help me, with a little money maybe

ore bitter than amused. "Of course. T

began, sound

said, sharper than

t was tight, my mind buzzing. I hated that call, hated her persistence, and h

younger sister, Maya, she was studying arts

ven't seen a text from

cheerful and reassuring, but I was too raw, too exposed. I could feel the fatigue weighing do

he water bit at my skin, shocking me awake and stealing some of the

s while my father ignored the world. Loan sharks banging on the door while I held my sister close, whispering that everything woul

iving had been my first lesson, and I had learned early to stay cal

s's face surfa

reserve the professional distance we needed. I felt a flush of embarrassment even now, lying like that. It wasn't th

he had a one-night stand with, maybe he had a bad memory

hought about his face when I had blurted it in the parking garage. I remembered the way he had stopped himself from asking, from

furiatingly attractive. And I had given him a reason to back

eded to do. I had created boundaries. Professional boundaries. Personal boundaries. S

hat had happened, knowing the tension, knowing the lie. I reminded myself that no mat

t it. That spark. That awareness of him that made my sto

my head. It was ridiculous. I was

r was still dripping, my skin cold but tingling. I glanced at my phone, saw the text f

ust tired.

elf breathe. I reminded myself that I had made the right choices. That I had set bound

didn't remember that night, if it hadn't even left a

creditors, dodging chaos, and taking responsibility for everyone else's mista

dn't mean I

I wouldn't be thinkin

at