aid quickly, thou

razy? "Troy was our ride, and I'm not about to call an Uber at midnight from a biker

.." I

tranger said, his ice-

first real expression I had seen on his f

laughed. "That's exactly wha

e widened slightly. "B

our offer.

e are yo

to a sleek black Audi parked at the edge of t

against the window, trying to hold back the tears. M

stop replayin

e, I pulled it out and saw

. Just

ied to keep m

ritation. "You were supposed to meet Gavin and his pare

ped. I'd comple

ed the bridge of my nose, fighting back

could hear her disappoin

e tonight. I'll be home t

fore she cou

in. Thankfully, no one sai

y. I wasn't in support of her getting married...she's barely fo

d up in front of Aria

l be okay?" He asked,

you," I sa

hose ice-blue eyes studied my face, lingering on

name ?" he as

pushing my hair

abou

en

me sui

you for everything." I said

long moment. Then he

r apartment. I felt drained

ff the stupid red dress all the tears I'd been ho

wall, hugging my knees

ropping to the floor beside m

cried into her shoulder. Ugly, ga

e said gently, s

s came out broken, muffled aga

e not

of everyone, Aria." I pul

und me. "Hey, it's okay.

y eyes were swollen and my throat was raw.

pulled back

ay a mischievous smile crept across her featur

my face with my hand

dly despite the late hour. "That was like something out of

s at the memory. "He

you like you were the only person in the entire club

-blue eyes. The way his arms had fe

adrenaline ,"

't believe that

olden sunlight streamed through the window, painting everything in soft morning ligh

rom crying. My head pounded with

ay." Aria sipped her coffee with a very serious look on her face. "It's just a

gh bubbled up in my throa

te," she corrected, grinning.

g a redo." I picked at the edge of my coffee mug, not

that m

But I'm also coming out of a relationship. I don't think I should be swaye

u're righ

ang, cutti

mach immediately clenched with anxiety. Mom

ell

obs came throug

at's wrong?" Panic clawed up my t

e through the tears. "Melissa, baby, ple

y system, making my hands shake. "Mom, are y

Please come home." Th

g is very wrong. I h

ediately, already setting down her

last night off her bathroom floor. I didn't care how it lo

ss over my head, my fingers fumbling with

el

oice wavered on the last word, betr

-

home fel

hree times. Each time, it

Is she hurt?

ble possibilities , each

eering wheel so tight m

onto our street, my he

rn couch, my dad's old recliner that still smelled like his cologne, boxes an

xture of sh

r, they were bank officials. I recognized the l

o

't be ha