eness lingering in his silver eyes. He sees more than

up like a butterfly on a pinb

ays maybe there's a human with a beating, bleeding heart buried somewhere beneath

k at me anymore. "If you need an

gorov Industries. I don't dare look back. Bu

read the words on my computer screen. I tend to Dmitri's emails, file hi

he company chat channel late in the afternoon t

a or five into my bloodstream ASAP, I'

long time, am I? But Syrah doesn't know that. I'd planned on keeping the

o are you in o

, Lol, so dramatic. As if your bloodstream isn't pretty

as charged. Sue me.

to pass today, though. I

ially meet the man who impregnated you from afar without your knowledge? I don't think English has had the need t

age of one of Dmitri's sperm cells planting a

, if I don't l

ING??? As in, lik

depicting how she thinks my night will go. There are a few

planning on being a bitter old spi

ts and you don't knit. And you're too hot to be bitter and lonely.

for all of them has been the same: thanks but no thanks. I love y

o make sure you know how special and perfect you ar

onna wrap up and get out of

out grief is actually kinda good for productivity, because I got a lot of stuff done. Dmitri hasn't been back to th

ches my eye. My heart leaps into my throat immediately, but I can't s

see this picture every night before I go to sl

as I toy with her hair. We're looking at each other in the mirror a

rdly akin to the tenderness i

gorov is not physically capable of loving anyo

th

the vanity. She was so happy. This was before the endless procession of doctors, before dozens upon

The future was bright and beautif

out. So I quickly tuck it back in my desk and slam the drawer closed. But it's not fast enou

y, grab my pu

g with my baby

y. If I don't, I'm gonna have a nuclear meltdown. My nerves ar

the trick in these

the tip of my tongue than do I remember that the entire reason I'

amend to say, "M

. It's quiet in here tonight, which is a little weird for a Chicago Business Dis

e to witness what might be the mos

other, sir, but it seems like we

inge v

I even realize how fast I'm drinking it. I need someth

at goes down even easier. The thorny, recurring thoughts that have plagued me

r not, it'

or the time on my phone every now and then. Bu

inutes.

der to let the sperm donor know, so I'm pretty hard to mis

ne to replace the role that Rose and Jared were supposed to fill? Hell no. Trut

ust

ok my baby's father in the face so I understand what kind o

nge anything. It won't bring back my fa

oever it is, can onl

ce cream and put this day from hell to bed when I accidental

ge male hand grabs it

I even look up. It takes me

t s

and c

n in the world who sme

mples and the blood rushing in my ears,

gleaming leat

al gray slacks... and a baby-blue-shirt-clad midsect

n on this planet that I would ever

looks down at