a P

to Bryce's arm, her smile sweet and dazzling. She was the vo

e returning, brighter than before, now edged with a cool, assessing curiosity.

I were a piece of furniture, a

had never, not once, heard him use with me. "Go wai

back to me as she passed. She gave me a

lder in my lap, my nails leaving cre

e finally acknowledged me, his voice reverting

al mask firmly in place. "The MQ pro

t page without reading, and sc

the faint red mark on my wrist where he had grabb

lled out a flat, beautifully wrapped gift box.

," he said, his tone

ivorce papers yesterday, a gift

A hint of his usual impa

own accord, reached for

ad-singer-signed edition from The Wanderers, my favorite indie band. I had menti

d. He had fo

art. Maybe this was his way of saying sorry. Maybe the divorce

rd from the box, our

a treacherous current between us. I saw him flinch, pulling

ace for any sign of warmth,

rned away. "The file

instantly extinguished, dou

s a severance package. A paym

possibly heavy in my hands, a mocker

word. The pain was sharper now, the brief h

old files. I don't want to see it for now. I don't want to think of Bryce's cold face, no

panic. "Arla! It's Brenda from PR. She just sent out an email.