that didn't sm

nd paint thinner, skin

n dress lay in a careless heap on the floor. My heels were near the nightstand. My stomach twisted. One night. One kiss

elf, pulling the shee

could no longer ignore. I had cheated. Not just physically, but emotionally, with every part o

across the floor, like we'd cel

we h

in, but it was meaningless now. I had let Julian inside me. I had cried hi

regretted a

tinctively, I pulled

shirtless, two

ere," he said,

I'd sneak o

married, Elena. I thought you'

d of my name on his to

nightstand beside me. "Cham

. "You re

nd my mind went to back to the crazy night we had last nigh

aimed me. The way I had let him. My fingers dug into the sheets as he stepped closer

his jaw. Hickeys on his neck. I had done that. I knew if I looked, I'd find them on my neck a

you regret it a

too quickly. "Th

hen don't pretend you do. Don't disappear into that

to destroy my li

"I'm asking y

edged, wondering how I would tell Ma

time, Elena,"

pulled out something small and

st night," Juli

cold.

Forgot his charg

. he s

I didn't answer. He must have assume

One unread message, timestamped 11:32 p.m.-while we were upstairs,

ping. Got a weird vibe tonight. Any

screen until m

my knee. "He do

ill," I w

You've done it for years.

not fair

"Max doesn't see you. Never has.

e and pretend you're res

eyes. "I didn't want to ruin you. I j

gone by tonight. You'll n

ping Max's phone-a

nown n

ly one who saw

to. Taken through the window. Me. In Julian's ar

d know. More wher

ted inside me. I wanted him. I needed hi

e I was still going to have