d out to take his hand,

so she spoke up first, "

His fingers twirled a strand of her hair, like he was playing with a kitten, and re

ghtening slightly as she rememb

want a real partner-a s

meant the ma

d to hersel

aid she had a

om. Elian noticed she went to the right room and curved his l

er phone. It had been buzzing like crazy in the car earlier. A

e sent - still unanswered -

can't l

ur head open and see if it

ver since Aria showed up, the man cha

stupid

? Thinking of doin

swear-when I bury you, the glow from his chea

el room! Do you ge

.

e most recent one being fr

y, should I just fly

alie - sharp tongue, but alw

ral simple wor

assionate paragraphs, h

r phone lit up - N

s this close to head

igh. She wasn't sure why-maybe it was Elian

ay," sh

n't go to the Marriage Registratio

she guesse

e broke up. Deleted ev

on the line, then Natalie

me around? When he flew abro

, asking back, "You don't t

fireworks on this side of the ocean.

oud, then added, "Hey,

now, all over the international business news.

lassm

at's all she was - jus

suddenly br

now. She could sense

it, she sent over a photo o

marriage certificate, trying to figure out if it was photoshopped-or maybe just men

her voice echoed lo

after breaking up with Sebastian? Back in schoo

l up,

again. In the photo, Elian no longer had th

ss now, mor

us streak was still there. And that smug

e small smile tugging at

arissa, did you marry him ju

through her mind for about two seconds. Mostly

wasn't for show. I actual

ed, "Do you

but I don't dislike

er voice calm. "Then I hop

up, she reminded Natalie not to tell anyone y

*

hit her-why didn't Natalie wis

ossed her mind, someon

re, the savory, spicy scent of her favor

ged to the dining table, her eyes wide-n

? For real? Yo

t Clarissa had already tossed him a

g for him, picked up a piece of fish soaked

t spread acro

exactly the

g, but the corners of hi

to grab some food, Cl

n't get to eat any?" he

, "I heard that nine out of ten CEOs have stomach problem

is eyebrows. "Where do you even hear this stu

owed her eyes

ave made all this and not d

o think of it, out of the fo

t she liked. And... turns out,

the deal, maybe "settling down"

ut. He tapped her lightly

nse. Do you want a violin room? If yo

she want

with her grandpa. She never played the vi

ah... I'd like that. G

othly changed the topic. "Wanna h

r head. "I'd

dn't

Clarissa cleared the table

ch, phone in hand, scrol

eir marriage certificate, the othe

ed a c

es to paper