na

id

last day

erati. He didn't get out to open the door for me; he simply hit

eat, the leather feeling bi

g to Le Jard

entirely consumed by the screen of his p

s exactly the kind of place you took a woman

r the window. Before I could even o

A bottle of he

ered blinding migraines, a fact I had repea

d. Or perhaps, he

. Dante finally put his phone down. He looked at me

k tired,

red," I

plaining, Elena. I took time

hat?"

used. "Dinner.

dn't

didn't know w

mply hardened. It calcified

at myself in the mirror. I looked like a

the restaurant dimmed. A waiter was walking tow

hock. Maybe he remembered. Maybe

walked past

at the boot

a chorus of voices

te was pouring

e asked, gesturing vague

s birthda

d, unint

lutch. It was a text fr

Elena. Enjoy 5

y wish I would

hungry,

vy with irritation. He toss

for a walk. The

thick and salty. The Ferris Wheel lit up the night s

Wheel. I used to think it

walking. His b

owed h

was

ing frail and lost. The moment she saw us, she stood u

did. He caught her

thed. "What are

red, clutching his lapels. "The

s shoulder. Her eyes wer

she said, her voice trembl

ir. "You are not intr

she said. "Somewhere high up

d at the F

the wheel. Then

s left in the VIP cabin!

. He didn't even stru

's having an episode. I need to m

hand. He guided

tor locke

l began

ut his arm around her shoulders. I wat

ll silhouettes

were pinching my toes. I took them

the ocean. I turned

the taxi sta

the penthouse too

one bag.

he burner phone

bought me. The clothes. T

he penthouse unde

crawled on the bac

s O

nd for the first time in eight