HINA'

but at least the burn reminded

ed her glass high, her vision already s

d, cutting through bodies that moved frantically, everyone da

closer, breathing fumes in my

. The liquor burned its way down, spre

"Thirty days from no

riddance! What kind of husband lets some wom

eyes going wide, fixed on

na, over

like someone dumped ice wa

ed tonight-a short skirt that showed off her legs, dark hair spilling down her back, looking almost unreal under the

aring a smile I'd never seen

r. Then Rose pushed up on her toes, threw her arms around

still for one second.

ted tight. For a moment I

mmed her glass down, already halfway out

t her a

sounded strange-too

t me. "They're doing that right in front o

one from my bag and snapping photos of

her, kissing deep, faces visible, the crowd around them obvious.

, already pulling Angela toward the exit. "

eter this time. At least we wou

after ordering two whiskeys. "I thought you

hadn't even hurt as much as I'd expected. Maybe because my heart was alre

Angela dropped her voice low. "H

aid with a harsh laugh. "Didn't even

gela spat. "A man like that should

o drink, when something caught

froze in

y to the side. He wore a dark shirt tailored close, sleeves rolled

trength visible through the fabric. His profile cut sharp-

m F

, better than before, more refined somehow

ce, keeping just the right distance. He had that quality t

ed up suddenly. M

owing where I was looking. "Wow, that guy's gorge

glass and grabbed my bag, alre

ooked confused but fo

nst my skin. I pulled in several deep

my arm. "You're acting weird. Y

for a while.

id quietly. "He's... like a b

a blinked. "Like

ack bordered theirs. So,, they were good friends.. Our families stayed tigh

eeling my th

crash. After that, Adam became more than family-like a father and

gela said, still puzzled. "Wh

ries I'd buried for five

heard sounds coming from his room-breathing, low and strained. I stood frozen, not understanding at firs

a... Sera

n

so hard I thought it might burst. My thoughts s

home for three

how it sounded when he said my name, what he was doing... My face burned hot eve

t out by then

ikes a brother. The wa

felt the same, that we could try being together, regard

day, Adam came

y and confident in ways I'd never be, every movement deliberate. Ad

elt like the wor

iling behind. Caspian was impressive too-good-looki

me out alone. We

"I know you've always seen Adam as family, but you need to understand-he can't feel that wa

aking my hand. "I really love you. I want

and hearing those words felt like grabbin

ough preparations and I married him almo

I never spoke again.

ll open. "You married Cas

smiling wi

n my pho

an Th

ng tightening in my chest. It's late-shouldn't he be

found the d

eping my voice

ame through cold and tight wit