livered by Adrian's driver like

e on my marble counter while Daniel

rfect-the kind of night that

ine glasses, the way Daniel listene

tive, everything a rat

and dessert wine, a hollow ache reminds me how l

that could shatter me

come up for a nig

ort back and remind him t

appears in the doorway, tie

ndy hair, kind eyes, the sort of face

site of Adrian Kane in

my purse, fingers brushing the thick

my ribs, betraying a curi

e kind that would be comforting if my mind

th and stability, the other a storm I can't

eminding myself I control what I choo

xpensive but forgettable. Nothing like the Tom Ford that used to make

makes m

reaches for my hands, thumbs brushing circl

h, steady and grounding, and

aw, intoxicating, re

afe harbor Daniel offers, but my body

osing myself, without opening the door

nie

happened five years ago." He takes h

cold. "Sofia

so guarded." He pauses. "I don't need you to forget him, Elena

e love. Real commitment. A futu

is Adrian's voice cracki

sation," I say. "There are thi

face before he covers it. "I can wa

entle. But it's

on my cheek that feels like

hum of the apartmen

ne lingers in the air,

t me from the window, eyes

f an old memory-Adrian's laugh echoing against

ally open

en I pour myself wi

e the Adrian I fell in

elping me debug code, who br

could build an empire be

and text Sofia: We

response feels amplified,

screen ligh

f my cheek as if the simple act of spe

're not falling for

ing me tonigh

ching you or

to the window, lookin

did he say in

at he saw me with Daniel and I looked happy. Th

if you're calling

Sofia. I just can't

o rules. Maybe he'

esperate things. Everythi

ew then did calculated

just get better at hi

you really

suffer," I say.

nt him to prove he has changed so yo

could hear each other's

inally say. "I nee

is

nt. Everything I

m Ad

his who

I climb the sta

ess bed, blonde curls spread ac

her blanket, as if even in dreams s

tellations on the wall, painting

zing the sound of her breathing that remin

sleeps like she's trying to

e one good thing I built wh

aby girl?" I whisper

tent and safe in a world wh

this. I can't

y just by wishing it. I can't stop the part of m

ake a silent promise: Whatever happen

the leather journal I bought toda

y

o my terms with

te Daniel. Giving m

or he's playing a long

tonight. Raw, h

ear five years ago when I was s

's studied what I need to hear and

. Sent a text afterward wish

he wasn't before. Which makes

y body doesn't c

ope, my pulse jumped. When I read

ked open five years ago

ke that mi

ge. About making hi

too late that some things,

s to his redempti

i

at my own words until

nned? Or am I already caught in

me like smoke-familiar,

t recognize. Someone who swore she'd never let him ba

. Adrian. I sh

s la

is rough. "I needed

hy

I need to remember this is real

don

n't

ths to audition.

"He seems lik

e

know ab

a tol

really

pati

e same

It's

le

our lette

was it

d say. Like you calculated ex

think? That I'm

n't

onest. Maybe for

you want,

drops. "I want to prove the boy wh

ghtens on

t to say thin

y n

upposed to mak

I can't spend six months prete

too

s

l it a nig

the

if it's not too late? What if that