eat, I could

el L

that promise without explanation. The ghost I had spent years t

esk, my knuckles white. "Y

. More like a mask, calculated, profes

nce, and then he thought he c

y throat, anger sparking.

less office. His suit was sleek, his shoes polished to a mirror shine, every inch the

nprofit was in t

"So what? You

e sharp, almost defens

said you'd be there for me, you disappeared withou

His eyes, still impossibly blue, softened in a way that

aking. "You don't get to rewrite hi

and somehow more dangerous. And for one stupid, reckless heartbeat, I almo

mmer grass from our hometown. The way he used to hold my hand was like it was the only thi

al, the day he left

r, hiding the quiver in my bod

gh that I felt it anyway. The space between us changed. Tight. Hea

figure this o

d office, the eviction notice s

g because he

e. "Why now? After all thes

as answer enough. Before I could dem

an

ull of grocery bags. Her eyes widened when s

, not giving her

. Looking like..." Her gaze flicked over him, impressed despi

polite nod. "Sop

've got nerve." She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "

ldn't. Sophia was saying everything I di

iffened. "I didn't co

," Sophia

ed, and I suddenly felt lik

d finally, my voice raw. "

xhaustion I couldn't hide. She squeezed my hand before lower

stormed out, leaving me and Danie

te me. I hate myself for what I did. But whether you wan

Nothing comes free

anything," he said

understand. At least, not now, as thou

My eyes landed on the envelope again,

d it toward him. "Do y

ge just once, and his j

d in my chest.

't. No

ct like you're here to save me, and then you dangl

his expression unreadable, then t

o my chair

Daniel back in would be a

otice, the swindler's betrayal replaying in my mind, my f

survive t

w something about the

led to life before

voice said, low and urgen

tton, my pulse r

"there won't be another one. I've made the calls. Doors are

oat we

Daniel is my only

t," he replied. "Walk away, a

the intercom chimed aga

nounced, "final eviction notice on

it harder t

ering like a storm that hadn't passed. Pride told me to run. F

through my mind. My father's weak

door Daniel ha

lp, and risk

d lose everyt