t of the ER, her arm

e felt per

was waiting by his vintage c

said, then his eyes landed

Leo asked Maya

than's arm tight

voice a little too casual. "A... a

end. After

ough expected

nsisted on secrecy, her excuses abo

keeping her options open, about keeping her "practice bo

as a cold, hard k

d, extending a hand to Le

appraising. "Leo Vance." His

a friend's place," Leo said, turning to Maya. "

up. "That soun

han, a silent co

go home, to crawl into

red for him. "

ominated the conversation, r

ou were in, Leo?" Maya laug

offense. "We were

e? 'Maya's Eyes'?" She blushed, a genuine

ent observer of her undi

a side of Maya he'd never truly know

s a dull, c

wling loft, filled with

ner by a window, nursin

o's side, fetching him a d

finger, as usual," a guy with a guitar

e on him since

flicker of something – guilt

er phone. A message popp

nows we're just friends. Keeping up

essage, a bitter t

entire relationship

at was the point? T

d, some complicated ca

and miserable, was

hot of something fi

up the s

for you!" Maya started to ris

of Leo's friends said. "E

briefly, then downed

all the

f applause. He

nds later

thing, Maya snatched the fo

im!" she declared,

d at her.

ime Leo was due a forfeit, Maya

nk, her laughter louder, he

htening in his chest. This wasn't just about

was swaying

air," she mumbled, stumb

g her slumped against a wa

he approached, he

for him. "Leo, I... I love you

another, hit Ethan li

and, her grip sur

ck with emotion and alcohol. "All these years... I've been pra

d echoed Chloe's fr

up, what gifts you'd like... even

ltered by alcohol, was a con

nderstudy, t

squeezed in a vise. Blood and fle

away, his own voi

about me? What