i

t to get ou

That's al

o clearly radiates heartbreak and vodka fumes. But something about the way he said it-calm,

es

just nodded once, like I'd answered correctly on

lowed

f the

my ow

s of grief and betrayal

call. I stumbled slightly, the heels I'd worn

sked, not lettin

then winced as I a

pped, turned, and crou

seriously offering m

der at me, deadpan. "No.

-and before I could second-

he did it like I weighed nothing. Like he c

n his shoulder. "Y

omen I just me

ea

on Tue

his neck. "I

making an

passenger door, let me slide in, and then walked around to the driver's side. The

e stupid," I said cautious

looking at me. "I'm not int

re I am. In

e now. "You got

ay that's sti

wanted to hurt you, Mia, I wouldn

fr

told hi

not

ce low. "You ordered your drink with the bar

. Just a statement. Like the

r just under his lower lip. Beautiful, but not in a model-perfect way. More like a pain

e you?"

es, rem

yes. "That only

look. "Fair enough.

your re

N

"You're in

en calle

Your th

the corner with smooth

shut

city lights blurred past the window, c

?" I asked, becau

ly. St

happ

y. I liked her.

ust... tired. Like someone who had learne

n talking to me?

pause. "What

's probably halfway down my chest. I got cheated on by my boyfriend and my best f

amed. "You could have any w

, then turned

ked a

oked

voice was quieter tha

you didn'

ked. "

looked at was selling something. An image. A fantasy. But not

red a

tending I'm fine when I'm not. So, no-I didn't pick you because you looked easy or desperate or lonely

at went

cause you looked like you needed someone to tell you that whatever thos

le

sudden a

e. But right then, with those word

going?" I aske

ed the c

lace q

out to be

that required a keycard, and we stepped into a penthouse with floor-to-ce

idn't st

ftop wrapped in low glass walls and soft lighting. There were a few sleek chairs,

ed below us like

I bre

nd poured something dark and smoo

slowly. "And

cli

7:02 a.m., I felt something o

en. Safe.

ake a decision that w

f that should scare