en: Terms o

e a secret. Warm, hesitant. As if even the sun was

t of coffee and the fa

landed on the child-sized slippers by the couch and the dr

in like a weig

stretching muscles that ached in all the

sy bun. Wearing an oversized hoodie that

like the woman he remembered

Just slid a mug of c

ar. Still how

sed. "

eyes were calmer than last nigh

ed to

kno

er hands wrapped tightly aroun

g into Luca's life. Tha

er you need from me-l

ody battle," she cut in. "

ed. "Con

and disappear. Don't show up one week and vanish

hed, but sa

continued, voice soft but deadly serious. "You wan

t to. I don't know h

ied him for

If he wants that. And only if you stick to every plan you agree to. If you

clenched.

ent passed

e asked suddenly, eyes locked

esit

mistake. Said if I stayed with you, I'd lose everything-

dn't even f

tting you off would protect you from his wrath. I thought I'd come

I never wanted perfectio

stopped short. "Then let me try

ped to her co

ce. You can take him for ice cre

ded. "I'l

down the hall, t

a cup of lukewarm coffee, realizin

was

trust, for

his

wasn't leaving