he time she went back inside, but she didn

ided with a charity brunch Floyd and Jaylah were hosting at the house. Her e

tem: a small, velvet box. Inside was the simple engagement ring Floyd had

or. It was Floyd. He saw the pack

ving," he said. It

es

pped forward, his hand closing over hers. "Let me see

with you?" he aske

e said. Which was a lie. She

belongs to the past. My life is wi

t time, that there was no p

ce steady. "My mother's medical bills. The final pa

r a long moment. Th

N

was col

he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. "All ex

ing the power over her family's well-being to the one person he

out from under her. But her

id. "Thank you

standing alone i

that house. It was a small canvas. She painted a dark, opulent room. In the center, a man with a handsome, cruel face stood bes

, "The End of

ng on the empty eas

n. It was Floyd. He was drunk. The polite façade from t

ou're going?" he slur

aving,

shaking his hea

lk away," he whispered. He reached out, his hand tangling in her hair, pu

g against hers. It wasn't a ki

her cheek. And then he said the name th

ed, his eyes closed

innitus in her ear screa

warm body to be used when the real o

r of feeling she might have had for him was extingui