ices soft and low, Jake tried to lift Sophia in his arms

e," he sa

her arm slightly away. "It

s voice firmer this t

ened as he saw the darkening bruise wrapping around

ied the bruise. "This doesn't lo

was the fry pan," she said, avoiding hi

a, This is not blister-it's deep,

ady took something for the pain, and

her face. "Are you su

le. "Yeah. Just

id softly, his vo

er guard flickering

added, holdin

ently onto his lap, cradling her with one arm around her waist, the other brushing th

ing's fine," he whispered, pressing

a second. The weight of his

t a big deal," she said quie

ghtly tracing the edge of the bruise. "It's on

, blinking rapidly

hat meant, what she was really hiding-but the

e said, his voice thick w

started to feel safe, there was a

id in his lap. "Don't answer it," she

ing her aside as he stood. The knock c

d his eyes.

oyed, and unmistakably male. "It's Alex. S

toward her. "Alex?"

ver her like a crashing wave. "Jake.

disbelief in every word. "When? After cuddling

ia!" Alex pounde

es immediately locking on Sophia.

e shouted, her voice cracking.

em, his chest heaving.

im with a sneer. "Yeah.

pparently, the other guy.

voice trembling. "I didn't plan this. I did

voice lower now, wounded. "All t

this is what space mea

o breathe-I needed-" she stopp

ayal, three hearts beating way too fast, none

ight of the situation crashing down on her all a

ars, but he couldn't seem to stop himself from moving. He searched for his keys. The ones that had always

ds came out. Her hand reached for h

re fixed on the door, then down at

rsh, but there was something broken behind i

he keys, the cold metal biting into his palm. "What

g in ragged gasps as she stepped toward him

being said. You didn't trust

s she reached for him. "It wasn't

t time, she saw the raw hurt in his-somet

hem like a bystander to a wreck. "This isn't helping anything," he said, but

rp exhale, he walked to the door. "Goodbye." H