nd slid from Averie's hair down to the small of her back, pressing her against him. It w

ope inside her-the tiny, stupid part that whispered it's a misunders

breathless. Averie's gaze drifted over

g, cruel sound. "God,

ive. "What do you expect? It's cheap

ing, were a fresh wound. Chea

action, a focal point in the overwhelming sea of hurt. She wanted to scream. She wanted to rip the

he was paralyzed by the sheer

oice cut through her trance. He sl

dark corner of the patio, away from the glittering crowd. Once she was hidden behi

reflection in the dark glass of the patio door was a monster. Mascara ran in black rivers down her cheeks,

cture of the textbook he'd sent just an hour ago, followed by the goodnight message from last night. Two separate lies, stacked

, babe. D

ed like a sob. She shoved the phone back into her po

A frantic, insistent

BRENDA MCCOY. Her next-door neighbor. An

ok as she answ

"It's your mother. It's Laura. She collapsed. The paramed

rld di

anished. There was only Brenda's voice and a te

hoked out, the word

musty fabric resisted, then finally gave way. She tore the plush body off, kicking her feet free from the oversized turkey

gates, past the valets, ignoring B

pavement, turning the streetlights into blurry halos. She did

form instantly soaked through, and waved he

ne. She flinched back, invisible to the wealthy occupants cocooned within. None of them even

throat. Her mother. She

listic. Her legs gave out, and she sank to her knees on the wet asphalt, the fi

directly in front of her. The car was a sleek, black Maybach, its

ing a perfect circle of shelter in the chaos. A polished

lked tow

saw a face. A face she hadn't seen in person in four years, but one that was seare

ll Kn

et boy she had watched from afar, the one who existed in a completely differen

ank. She couldn'

hief. His voice was low and steady,

na He

mbered

ingers numb and clumsy. How coul

took her by the wrist, his grip

toward the open car door. She moved lik

rain was instantly reduced to a soft, rhythmic drumming on the roof.

er the pristine leather seat. She tried to curl in

ped it over her shoulders. It was heavy and warm, carrying his

cation plaque, the hushed whispers about his family, all of it rushing

voice calm and direct

sbyterian. An

d up. Her heart hamm

he know where s