i

r. Simple-blue jeans, white tank top, and clean white sneakers. Nothing fancy, just c

y. Another we

ing about the test

call out a quick goodbye-maybe gr

I fr

st outside Lucy's room, I

ly open, and inside

hands. His back was to me, but even from here, something

cy speak. I didn

sil

ouldn't name tigh

heart suddenly beating a little faster-beca

ld fe

ing wa

oorway, eyes fixed on the

, hun. Good morning.

bed. The way he touched her hair, kissed her forehead, smiled down a

y smile

I was

tly heading do

ed at the table. I hesitated before stepping in,

y's room?" I asked, t

soft smile. "That's

surprised. "

nod. "Arrived ear

otioning to the neatly set table. "For

e warm food, the folded napk

mbled. "He s

ng: people who want you to

st on my way out, still

he smile, the way Lucy didn't flinch when he kissed h

my jacket against the early mo

ry. The kind you only see in magazines or outside fancy hotels. And there was a driver standing beside it,

brows

iou

reentered the house, and tip

?" I whispered, eyes wide. "The

d mid-bite, glanc

r?" Mom

is fork. "What

aid. "The kind that looks like

their a

ghtful. "He didn't say wh

pression unreadable. "May

-

u

r creak

tepped into the room, the tray still

iliar confident stride and leaned down, press

around me, pulling it up

the tray gently on the side table. "I thou

d, but practiced. "Tha

too long. I kept the smile in place until I heard Mila'

n I let

ed like it had n

us said a word. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing

amily about me," he sai

ied, equally soft. "You

d right away. Ju

ew that

ow quickly i

ightened suddenl

g sharp, his grip

mbling as I tried not to flinch. "Why do you s

ng to spill. I hated that I was cryin

second too long... t

e started pacing across the room. His jaw clenched ti

n louder: "You didn't say anyth

e brought-toast, eggs, strawberrie

"Why?" he demanded, voice cracki

at he alw

was the

at came out of his fists o

nees up tighter under the blanket,

eady. "Mike, please. My

to me. His shoulders rose and fell with every inhal

ven know me,"

I knew that's what he needed to he

und. His silence s

here he'd grabbed me. The bruise hadn't formed

I added softly. "I just... I

a mix of heartbreak and fury, like he coul

er, Lucy," he said. "Don't

t hammering, voice ba

ing, the low murmur of my parents tal

upstairs with a man

behaved exactly the