g is a blur of fake smile

who stuck by him, are all here. His former partner, Dave,

bastard. Gabby's the best thi

s the room. The love in his gaze is so real, so c

I remembe

han insists I try on t

ct," he says, his hands caref

. The silk is cool against my skin, the lace intricate and fragile. He

ts, his voice thick w

profound it makes me sick with guilt. This is the man I wrote into

buzzes urgently on the nightstand. The scr

something-annoyance? concern?-c

again. A

stands up. "So

low. "Annie? What's wrong? ...Sl

again-sharp, focused, all his attention zeroed

t there. Don't m

rmination. "I'm sorry, Gabby. It's an emergency. Annabel.

r, his mind already at the guesthouse. In his haste, h

rr

violent in the quiet room. A lon

out the door, his footsteps pounding

my reflection. The ripped lace is a perfect symbol