y's

ll starin

e ordinary had just happened. Like he hadn't j

said, breath catching. "I saw y

ised. "What are you talking about? I

You got out of the car way back there-

ge, "you must've been in shock. That car nearly hit you. Maybe

nked

e ser

at I saw,"

o calm me down. "Then maybe you just got luck

o

wasn'

e that-steady, confident, unfazed-

had pa

ings had

ading too much into everything. First John.

ad th

kets like the conversation was over.

ue, my pho

er has

ve

ickly. "Yea

ide us, and I opened the bac

dn't try

I climbed inside

, I could still feel his e

I took a deep breath before walking inside, trying to shake

tivity. Early arrivals. Coffee

me just outsid

she whispered, eyes na

no idea,"

ned closer. "Hey... listen. Don't tell anyone yo

ed. "Wh

er treat you like you don't belong or start sucking up like

owly. She w

, I was assigned t

ffice seemed to f

wen?" one girl whispere

trict. Unfriendly. Type of guy who thi

up. "It's fine. I'm no

becca add, "John recommended him. Personally. Said h

e my sto

at wa

robably hoping I'd break under the pressure and r

happ

ers without looking up. "These need to be tur

erst

uestions. I ju

preadsheets, my fingers cramping from typing,

of the staff left

d everything a lit

ar the elevators, sipping wha

ith the hell

ly,"

"Okay. I probably shouldn't say this bu

ed an

ng. I saw them kissing in the

t didn'

ve anywhere

ng under him again for conven

"She's working un

rt laugh, dr

rst part-that I had caught t

t too much to r

_

te, dreading what

mmed, the air heavy with perfume, Lisa's purse

ing alone on the couch, scroll

when I walked

in all day. "It's our first day of marriage, and the house doesn't feel

pause on my

cook or a m

aught off guard by th

you," I added, turning to face

look tugging at his mouth. "So... what,

eant to pull me into a hug-soft, familiar

fuss with the mail on the console beh

and met his eyes. "

answer r

ose strand of hair behind my ear, fingers grazing my cheek with practiced

, his voice low and coaxing. "You're the woman I l

rm. Reassuring.

could think a

prom

patt

was enough to excu

sigh, his voice gentle. "You've been acting a little st

echoed, fol

ve most in this life, Ruby. You know that. I'm sorry for earl

pau

ait

to who-knows-what. He's harassed her for months. I couldn't i

at him,

ight things. In a

ds didn't l

tween us, empty

ut a dr

ked, shar

ve you slep