li

the silence like a b

ollen from kisses that weren't hers. His pupils

g but a satin sheet, her blonde hair cascading over her bare shoulder

low, supe

id I won, withou

t them both, her eyes flickering between the

h

L

deways as her palm con

t thing-the gift bag-and hurled it at him. The Cartier box hit his shoul

Jason! Six g

ra,

hurled it at his chest, "-was engraved. I han

ackward, arms up.

u dare sa

you to find out lik

re cheating?!

needs, too! You wanted to wait for marriage, and that was cute at first, but

L

ai

d through the ha

ce painted all over her face. "Please stop! Don't hit him anymore! If

rned toward her best f

in the same shade Elira had worn two weeks ago-a

out that could win Oscars. "But... I've always liked Jason. I- I

, stunned by

f her hair. "I tried to fight it, really. But we just have a connection, you

oft breath leaving her l

ook two st

lappe

uth open, the sheet slipping

a whispered, trembling.

am!

ve

he marble as she stormed down the staircase. The broken pieces of

ery item she bought with love now weighing her down like bricks.

uiet night, Sabrina's voi

ery woman! He's ju

ved the bags into her car and

r sil

ed through the tears tha

in silence. He expected to feel.

le weight in his chest. His throat was dry. The

tick stain on the sheet draped over her c

gged. "Oop

rned

op driving until the city

with Sabrina waiting to tell her "I

eded o

ded to

g off at a neon-lit corner that pulsed l

Cocktails, Smoke

he pavement. The bouncer looked her over but didn't stop her-she had that look

d light glinted off mirrored walls and half-empty glass

aid. "Neat. And

raised a bro

rink after drink, she swallowed down

eone app

ere, go

n suit, cheap cologne. A pi

Elira said witho

mon. On

sion. Her eyes, bloodshot from tears a

k. A

it, "arrogant bitch." He mutter

back to

still clenched, but her mind floated far above it.

slightly. Her legs felt

tu

irectly into

d her waist

. Car

-and met the ey

is elbows, exposing strong forearms and a watch that probably cost mo

Calcul

sn't

sn't

watch

ftly, lips curving into something unreadab

t skippe

ou?," she whispere

he s

ten me so soon hmm? Niece

drunk gasped, "You'