ats, touch screen panels, and the faint scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air. Cecili

id, not taking his eyes off the

," she said, voice low. "Y

y car. That's not

fault. I stepped int

ing a little too fast. So now we'

ile tugged at her lips. "Y

m running dam

ents, neither of them spoke. Cecilia stared out th

w you drove yourse

t of the office before I su

. "Quiet? With papara

twitched.

-

walked in and the entire hospital s

d, cleaned up, and handed an ice pack for

id, giving Leo a pointed loo

corner, arms crossed, face unreadable. But

ked out to the lobby, expecting to call a cab. Inste

have to wait

id." He opened t

a hesi

t her shoes. "Whe

nd. "Didn't exactly feel l

t nod. "Fair e

-

town Atlanta faded into cracked sidewalks and older apartment

re?" he asked, eyes

st off Br

hat's not exactly th

You think I do

ean it li

plied flatly. "That's all

But he didn't l

complex with rusting stair rails and potted pla

to a stop, the buildin

ith curlers in her hair and a permanent scowl on he

oks, you got money for rent or not? I t

ed. "Mrs. J

man wasn't

ctive. "Riding around in a fancy car with a man like this, and you'

ked. "Ex

r sugar daddy or what? Got her living here with u

a said, her voice trembling. "H

spat. "Girls like you always play b

d out slowly. He towered over

Cecilia home because I accidentally hit her with my car earlie

ted, startled by hi

lear," Leo continued, his voice s

went wide. "L

idn't lo

led. "Uh... she's

ed a few buttons, then looked

she sai

" He turned to Cecilia. "Go upstairs and

unding. "Why are

y. "And because if you collapse from stress a

reeping up her neck.

interrupted

car, and drove off-leaving both

-

sat on her worn-

ust ha

taken her to the hospital, brought her

anything about him-excep

e like him help

ll at $58.17. But the landlord payment was real. She got the email co

-not just from the relief,

. Jenkins s

oked at her-like s

he di

prospects, no backup plan, and no reason for a

ntly, for everything she'd lost... and for the strange