pte

snapped, my voice r

rol. "He says he's at work, and you're his girlfriend anyways. It won't be spying," sh

he closer we got to James's house. Why? Why was I feeling like this? James would never do such a thing. Why would he? And he would never have marri

e best in people, even when things didn't always add up. And now, as Rose led me thr

e. You're twenty now, not some little girl who believes everyone is good. The world isn't l

lf to argue. "But I'm not naive," I whispered bac

t that claimed pigs were endangered species," Rose shot back, a smirk tugging

get under my skin. "You never k

"Please, you're a walking disaster.

e, a knot tightening in my stomach as my palms turned clammy. Why was I so nervous? What was the worst that cou

the hearth, casting warm light across the room. Nothing seemed out of plac

me

he fire with... someone. A woman. My chest tightened, and for a split second, I thought I might fa

casually draped over the woman's shoulders, their heads turned toward eac

d. This wasn't ha

was just imagining things. But then it happened. He moved

e a punch

ily on my shoulder, but I barely noticed it. My mind was reeling, my vision blurri

t his... friend. His... friend," I repeat

t something like this could happen. James wasn't like that. I had trusted him with everything-my heart,

them away, refusing to let Rose see how

st witnessed. It was surreal. Impossible. My heart was breaking in ways I had

d every sign. How I had let myself be swept up in the fantasy of a

er now. "I hate to say I told yo

railed off as I clutched the window ledge, fighting the overwhelming urge to run. I didn't

vitable breakdown that she knew was coming. I stood there, staring at Ja

er voice low and serious now. "You deserve someone who w

for this kind of pain. The kind that felt like you

ent

p quickly, my heart racing, but it was only Rose. I exhaled a shaky br

der my breath, rubbing my temples to ease the tension in

re perfect as always. If it weren't for her, I would have never survived the past six months. Her constant presence had been both a blessing and a

ked up a cushion and began knitting. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Was this wh

was to slip into a hot pool, forget about

eign interest. My body felt like it was made of lead, and s

erated disapproval. "Are you

rying to rem

excitement in her eyes now unmi

ed in c

g her voice slightly, as if I had forgot

it hit me. Darius. Of course

o admit it, the only thing that could possibly distract me from the mes

rything that had just happened? How could I pretend that nothing had