ike a warden leading a convict to her cell.

"Mr. Vance requires you to be ready by seven. You an

ith the two of them, pretending ever

going,"

"Mr. Vance was very clear. He said if you ar

as clear. I

fit me loosely, a reminder of the weight I'd lost. I did my own

soon as we arrived, Alexander guided Sophia to the center of the room, his hand p

d, away from Alexander and his circle of friend

n, and so did

to her companion, loud enough for me to hear. "She h

"Alex is a saint for putting up with her. I

of me. I was hungry, and I was going to eat.

aid in a stage whisper. "I'd have been too

it. I'd h

e for this meal, I intend to enjoy it. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with him.

t. The woman's face

ation with Sophia, his eyes dark wit

was the problem. I was the one causing a scene. He was

and stood up. "You're

house, and into the cool night air. I just s

he night sky. It was a jewelry ad. And on it was a picture of Alexander and Sophia,

n the distance, and felt the full weight of my publ

said to her friend. "He and Sophia Miller are s

he crazy one? Please.

ack car pulled up beside me, moving at a slow craw

anded from the back seat.

ing ring on my finger. It felt heavy, foreign. I p

treetlights caught something i

art s

uinting to read the

love

Vance loves S

I wasn't just a substitute. I was a stand-i

r got out. He started walking tow

see were those six little letters,