the glass, making them shimmer faintly in the fading warmth of the day. Evenly wiped down the counter for the third time, trying to stay busy as the crow

f the day bearing down on her, as she mechanica

d a beer to a regular, just as

air swept in-an

e the heat outside. The sharp lines of his attire suggested a life of precision and power, the kind that belonged in boardrooms, not dive bars. His skin was smooth and bronze-toned, his features impossibly chiseled-like he'd walked out of a magazine. Thick, jet-black hair was slicked back nea

tching. Her heart gave an embarrassing l

erent. There was something unnerving about him. The aura of authority he exu

te calm. His every movement seemed calculated. Then his voice-low and c

need a

sound came. She had served hundreds of customers-but something abo

d, finally pulling herself together, though

ll-bodied. So

hake. She could still feel his eyes on her as she turned around. The weight of his

e began to pour,

bold, and unforgiving-right

eemed to blur into the background, as if she were und

gasped, eyes wide

stain, then up at her with pure disgust. His eyes narrowed, sharp as dag

to make conversations nearby come to a halt. "Do you not ha

speak, but the words came out jumbled, her usual confidence slippin

his voice rising. "You can't even d

rst time she'd been yelled at by a customer, but there was something a

from under the counter and stepped

fire. The raw fury in his voice left her paralyzed, and she quickly

on her. She could feel the weight of their gazes, the judgmental stares that followed her every move. Her cheeks burned with shame. She stare

she could feel the beginnings of tears welling up behind her eyes. She turned her back to the crowd, focusing on the bott

into the bar with her usual energy. "Evenly!" she c

hed behind the bar, wiping down the s

aid, slowing d

ollow laugh. "N

furrowed. "W

recounted everything-the man in the suit, the

uttered, her voice low with indignation. "People like that think they

t," Evenly whispered, her voice b

s. "It was an accident. And anyone with an oun

till lingering in her mind. She wanted to believe Diana, b

place up. Then we're going out. You need to breathe. Danc

moment, then nodded, gr

e night felt like a new beginning-one she could face with Diana by her side. And when they finally stepped out into the night, Evenl