d like burnt cof

r apron stained, sneakers still soaked from the storm that morning, and her

already tex

ast night. Yo

y lucky hoodie t

apo

xpla

he was part of the f

dn't r

o sleep through the fires he set while she walked around carrying buckets to douse the flames. Her wrists ached. Her neck screame

from the counter. "Cor

d guessing-eggs, maybe, or a doubl

an C

g

es rolled up to his elbows, silver watch catching the light like it had something to say. He held a

ipped. She l

d up and

s Bl

f she should feel flattered or worried or j

d, because names wer

," he said, not like a questi

of stalking your

soft breath

k you, you wouldn't

der from a nearby booth without listening, hopin

or the sugar, st

You know what h

need a

n't of

bles," she mutte

n't st

Zara fell in beside her, sharp eyes

look like he could pay my tuition and still a

led throug

g st

d her with

live in your dr

Nathan

bli

ucking

nodded

e Nathan's last nigh

you g

't... p

ised an

man's car like that unless your

sleep with

, with a smirk t

cause the word echoed

heat, silence, and something unspoke

n her bed, picking at t

n who only loves himself,

sa

sixteen. We've been through ev

omeone who sees you, not someone

a st

I lose my scholarship. I

oice was

him? Let him drag your

didn't

into her bag, and left before her silenc

se was quiet

oom was clean-for once. No beer cans. No pizza boxes. Just a bowl of c

n?" sh

ans

't ready to study. He probably slept through the afternoon

rl's

an

s rus

door cra

eath h

ch kn

cou

cou

treating, but that's when sh

ri

n the guest roo

Natha

d away, step by step, like maybe if she mo

p and shoved the fro

. Her heart beat loud in her ears. Anger burned

anted

scr

the ho

on the porch steps and b

tes

e lo

creaked o

't have

ide her, quiet. Pre

side by side, not t

lly, he

," he sai

u came

him, eyes gl

want to believe h

do

idn't

erchief from his jacket

ped he

t tha

gratitude,Onl

Tessa dropped her

couch, remote in one h

ook li

ha

e'd y

hesi

utor

fro

d her mouth.Closed

rrowed

cry? Did he-" "I

... and?" Tessa co

aused

that's Nathan's fath

ight. Breath goneZa

idn't

" Tessa

different Now

beginning of someth