low

ghtstand, the blank screen a mirro

moving on their own to smooth th

contact, feeling the pressure of h

t porcelain sounded like a shriek, the pale morning light fil

eady prepare

y place setting, alongside a pl

ic act from a man who comma

stomach a kno

eat opposite me

th a silver butter knife, and he wor

s onto his own plate with a

ly in our marriage-a blind assumpti

center of the bread, but I had never p

carred hands move with

rp-edged whispers I used t

wn just to bring Scarlett dozens of extravagant br

sumed what

gave her e

topped

wed as he regarded

d, his voice a low rumble that w

nds trembling where the

ett's extraction and d

e words out into the open air b

complete

rew thick, heavy, pre

ssed, feeling like a

he fina

s jaw tightened, the muscle along his cheekbon

favor for an o

ut the word acquaintance f

n them ran so much d

bear to hear

air scraping loudly against

I said, turning away before he cou

y civilian office job in a s

emails, functioning purely on s

stomach dropped, my body tensing to se

o a compulsory dinner with my

downtown-an exclusive establish

icking at my food while my coworkers

to me gasped and grabbed my arm

hispered loudly, utterly unaware of

ng corporate lawyer everyo