ng down. Their marriages, their reputations. One tap

everyone ignored. I saw Jovi at eighteen, squeezing my hand and telling me I

They were also piec

us with myself. I had the perfect revenge in my hands, and I couldn't

at a bar I'd never seen before, i

he bartender did

lease. It was a MISTAKE. A mo

re are you? I'm freaki

e face-down and or

n the hand

irl. Come have

ne. A hand on my waist,

aw

y. I l

ed, but my body wasn't listeni

to

said

iet. Flat. Not loud, but it cut t

vanished

nc

s winter. The same man who'd nodded at me this morning.

hing else. A memory, maybe. Seven years ago, at his wedding, standing beside Jovi in an ugly bridesmaid dress, wat

otten un

stand?"

iled. The r

s. Just slid an arm around me and h

. Solid. Smelled like expensive wo

k questions. Just took me to a hote

o leave when I g

n't

why I said i

... don't lea

eadable, but something in his eyes shifted-that same

t g

ugly and broken. "Why am I never enough? Why my bed?

wn. Found his m

eration and salt. I was trying to feel something-anythin

econd, he

kissed

ace, his thumb pressed against my jaw, and for a few seconds, there was no

himself back.

ttered. He wiped his mouth with th

Reassembled himself before my eye

e said. Vo

l

r click

iling and didn't m

a hangover. Brut

The bed too soft. I was stil

wer was

robe, hair wet, face already composed. Looked at me

wer. You have a 9:30 meeting. Lydia said you ha

alcy of it stu

carpet was too thick. Our sile

corner toward

ere th

arm around her. She leaned into him.

looke

damp hair to the space between us. His face cru

arted from me to him and back. Shock, the

ne s

Low. Clean. Carryi

vie

her

one step

e you