the Celestial Phoenix hu

unting of his new relationship

e glow of the monitor illumin

s a raw, ga

dn' t un

devotion, loy

ant nothi

r steadfast pr

n image, instead of the real

tions torm

ded closure, a r

to see him, hear it from hi

rsonal number, the one her agen

o talk to you. In person. About.

uldn't connect

fter a long,

, 2 PM. Cafe Li

was curt,

e' d

ered within her. Maybe, fac

e next morni

e put effort into her appearanc

ss. Applied light makeup, let h

t, not to win him back, bu

he person he

into Cafe Liss

idden by masks or baggy

n gave appreciative, so

of attention she

owed her as she found a

on made her

d. This constant, s

e sunglasses from her purse a

een by Ethan, not

xiety

ock came

hirty. Thr

nursing a col

Ethan. "Are

rep

of being stood u

foolish

a noticed two men watching

glancing. They were

unease ran do

ft the cafe, they s

ifferent from the usual unwant

seiz

n broke into a run, her hee

lowed, gain

it bodega, gasping for breat

ialed

t' s your

her voice shaking. "Two men. I' m at

cer happened to

istress, hea

Early thirties, gru

'am," he said, his voi

ted her out, his pre

the street melted

apartment building, ensu

asked, his expr

nk you, O

Rourke. Stay

ng presence in a

nt, shaken, Ava log

distraction,

saw was a global s

h! Co-streaming their first official

smiles, lavishing

hy he' d s

m. For publ

was a torrent of

el, what about Nyx? Any

concern. "Oh, poor Nyx. I hope she' s

ipped with f

lative dig, designed to

, his voice cas

' s not i

three

impo

harder than a

l, crush

nothin