A

with his back against the wall. I note how his eyes flick to each of the exits quick

fuse to sit anywhere he couldn't see everything h

ust makes me wonder what kin

y," I mumble, my cheeks on fir

were ready to d

"He wasn't in

nic while I reach for the glass of Coke. I only mean to take a sip, but the

. He just raises his hand and the server materialize

n practically sprints awa

spiciously. "Ar

e in front of them and leans forward to observe me closer. His eyes seem to cran

in his hands. Or in his

Even after downing a whol

eating?" he asks. "Or do you j

ound like a victim, and God knows I've been the

ng that this man isn't the t

lacking at the moment

lose yo

arrives with another glass of Coke. He sets it down and vanishes once again. "Althou

pla

waiters haul ass to do their bidding. They don't say Explain to strangers and si

Eyes sc

marriage wasn't

thought

hat out loud, the dumber I feel.

says. "He cleared out your bank accounts before he disappe

orry that happened to you; hang in there, champ. But when he says it like that-cold, apathetic, condescending-I

waiter return

seems: a slice of pizza. There's

s it down, ignoring the brick-oven heat s

athe as the savory, salty tang o

care that there's cheese plastered on the side of my mouth. I don't care that there might be basil lea

fucking

the last bite. Silver Eyes hasn't looked away for even a moment. "I trusted

he watches me dab pizza grease from my lips. "Tru

makes as

s that, as bizarre of a statement as

bout me when you saw me getting r

n," he corrects.

e, tell me, oh Wise One

ches up in something akin to a smile. It makes me

y sure there's a compli

ing sense of excitement surge down my spine. It's just

easons tonight," he tells me abrup

g my panic deep inside. I wonder how many times he has heard the w

oul

you have someplace

m pretty sure he'

even if I did turn him down, it wouldn't matter to him. He's bored. Or maybe just horny. Whatever the case, if I say no, he'll just find another woman. With his face and

irely clear on, I don't

sure I

and to go home to. Or, for tha

to sit there and rip my life to pieces," I snap. "My husband left, yeah, but I didn't

hing. Those

more than anythin

za I'm leaving behind and the hungry days that lie ahead. I wind between tables, p

as when I went in. My stomach rumbles again, but

right, it doesn't matter. I'm about to flip a coin in my head and march

fore I

mps down o