OV – Pre

Nia's oversized sectional. "He just sat there. At the counter. Like a statue. Didn't say

eyes knowing. "Oh, I remember. But, girl... that man wasn't silent because he didn't know what t

, confuse

. "He was shook. Like he'd never seen you be

alized his fat ass project partner was roommates w

, eyes sharp. "And you know they g

e up short. "

hm. Whole over priced wedding. Big photos. Matchi

iserable. Ain't no way he

ng on the lump in my throat. I knew what I saw back then. I felt it. But if it meant nothing t

by is doing gymnastics in my ribs. I'm drained. We can f

addle off toward her roo

girl," she

om she'd set up for me. The house was quiet now, the kind of silence tha

me like that? Like he s

o

t a smug asshole who got

erase the way his eyes lingered. Couldn't forg

e bathroom, and turned on the shower. As the stea

irl who always second

it, Aria," before stepping into the wa

– Pres

fice, I spot my brother Parker walking t

where's Pa

had some 'important' meeting to get to. You

his girl waiting just outside the service ca

, grinning from ear to e

him and throwing her arms around his neck.

ot to see the PDA when she calls out,

g around. Parker yells, "Don't be late, and

behavior? That's a joke. Talia and best beh

y head like a damn mosquito I can't kill. Every time I think of Talia, that h

r

e day something shifted in me. She wasn't hiding, and she wasn't trying to fade into the background. She was just

e her down behind closed doors, calling her "Plushy-Plush" and the "charity case scholarsh

th

shb

earn. I sat at the island counter, biting into a sandwich the maid, Lucia, made me. The woman could seriously cook,

ed voice, legs crossed, munching on a bo

s for spring break!" she beamed. "We should invite the entire

his week she used the phrase "your dad said" like we were still in high school trying to flex wi

I hea

here is my almond milk?! Wh

g. I looked up from my sandwich just in time to see poor

am. Tony left a

ere, is he? Get me

n she w

r

hoodie dress hugging every inch of her body, curls bouncing around her face like a halo w

urly ponytail, and dimples deep enough to swim in. Her friend looked li

he sandwich in my mout

ot confident. Not commanding space. Not walking in like

she spoke. C

her talk to you like that.

mouth opened, and no sound came out. For the

ff like a goddess with better places to be. I wanted to say so

t in the air. She never noti

alking to my dad about all of this," she muttered a

try to forget how my pants had suddenly

f Fla

ke I put a ring on, I wonder what would've happened i

e even

t even get my second sho

Why is no one answering me?

li

the wine cellar is probably e

hut up, keep walking, and imagine what life would be like