ie

needed to be sure. I needed to know I wasn't steppi

d warnings, but I refused

d his breath, not to mock him, but b

tched out his hand for

ded like a warning drum as

h his nose. "Why? I'm agree

left. "I still need to think about it." I scratched the

the surface. "What is there to think abou

elicate one. I need to be careful. I'll get back to yo

en he caught

p. I tried pulling free, but his grip didn't budge. He was stronger tha

that's all I'm going to say." His voice dropped into a low wa

te and controlled all at once. "T

wly, he re

eyes pinning me in place.

ght he was going to do something else, som

his bodyguards. Only when he di

later, Mrs. Lilith called to tell me Grandma was improving. Money truly solved eve

d her before I ever moved in with Grandma. But

lid. I hated her in so many ways. B

Her warmth, her voice, her

thing I asked, everything he agreed to.

because I damaged his car. H

of my life yet. I'd have enough money to take care of Grand

d fallen into thought until Tiffany

, bags in hand. "I've been

elcome." I blink

t, Ari?" She dropped he

forcing a smile. "

ss and downed everything in o

ed softly.

ps flattened. "I caught

urprise. "Oh my God, babe... wha

ek. Tiffany, who never cri

ink. She gulped it down like it was air. "Tell

was sick, right? I got to his house... and found him

ows that Blake and I are together." Tiffany said, with tears, gouging out of her eyes. "What else would they have done if I hadn't walked in? Was

y, Tiffy. He doesn't deserve you." Her hands tremb

orkplace. "Tiffany... please don't be mad, but I saw Blak

ad slowl

k." She stared at me through tear-blurred eyes. I wiped her

mad at myself. Ari, I saw them together days

deserve you, Tiffy," I said gently.

nicked. "I can't. Ar

what people at the diner said about him. Blake is a player. He won't change

d her gaze,

ed him years ago. Yes, he asked me out first and I rejected becaus

she saw him. She was in love with him. So, when he asked Tiffany out, she agreed, without

space to think?" I a

ered. Her voice was small, fragile.

d, grabbing my jacket and bag. "I'll go

me and glanced back at Tiffany from the wi

taurant appeared. I had never walked alone at night. "Hello, can I get a medium p

eady. I grabbed the bag a

Darius. Hope to see you again soon

owly as I heard footsteps a

us. Where the hel

I waited for him to speak, but he didn't. "What a coincidence," I said with

"Arielle," he said, a faint smirk on his li

ah, I was

done that. He grabbed my wrist, gentle but f

rstand him. I didn't understand why my

followed