ic played from a hidden sound system, and the city's chaotic lights

e she needed to breathe. He didn't pry, didn't ask for details. The qu

ghost in the glass. For the first time since she'd woken up in this new reality,

silence. "Aren't you curious?

e. "Everyone has the right to decide who they want to be. I'm only co

about the what now. It was a mark of respect for her privacy,

her voice gaining strength

ood. If you find yourself in need of certain... resour

liance. A display of the immen

's chest, chasing away the last

Julian didn't get out. He simply reached into his jacket and produced a stark, black

mber," he sa

l and solid in her hand. She nodded, then slippe

her phone buzzed. It was Brant. She dec

w of stubble on his jaw. In his hands, he held a pastel-colored box ti

rehearsed contrition. "I was a jerk las

. A sweet treat and a half-hearted apology to s

ression unreadable. "Brant, the

dy talked to Sophia. I tore her a new one. She promised it will n

mizing Sophia's malice, fra

ldn't see the truth until it was shoved so far down his throat he choked on it.

p, allowing a flicker of weariness to show in her e

rant, desperate for a return to normalcy, eagerl

, "I got us a reservation at Per Se tonight. A proper r

: throw money and status at the problem until it went away. She remembered all the times she had begged him for a sp

so thick she c

ragile peace. She needed him to b

she said

s her, but she turned her head at the last second, so h

etely oblivious to the ar

kitchen. She took the pristine, unopened box of Pierre