alf-sleep on the couch. Her hair was still damp, her blanket clutched too tightly around h

ang. Ba

es fle

ree hard knocks on the d

eephole to know who it was. She knew that knock. She'd l

ha

n her ears. He shouldn't even know sh

me, rough, almost slu

n through the wood, that same intoxicating scent that

in, this time softer.

was cruel - now he wanted to ta

Louder. "Amara,

b rattled,

nd answers, to hear the apology she had imagined a hundred times before. But she remembered t

acked

is tie was gone, shirt half-untucked, eyes bloodshot with guilt a

y. "It didn't mean anything, A

her side, watching the shado

door again, softer thi

l no

cking for the first time. "You

ecause she wanted him back, but because she could fin

the hallway behind him.

tood there in her robe, arms crosse

want to see y

t back, his tone half-p

he's just the woman who fin

htened. "You th

step forward. "Leave before she hears some

lling, eyes flicking toward the door one last time. The

aded. She pressed her palms to her face, tears spi

more. She was done be

hten, Amara's phone lit up again. Doze

ll end this, you're wrong. You're st

t wasn't an apology. It wa

settled over her. Tomorrow? No. Tomorrow, she wou

louds - pale, cold, unyielding. And Amara whispe