nking about him. But I wa

ila's voice cut through my though

the past few seconds. "Hmm?" I said, picking up my cup

me from across the small

not g

nd I know e

p, avoiding her

Black

ost c

ing her arms with sati

him," I said quickly, m

eacted like someone said your

the cup down. "It w

conversation," she sa

es

ted Ethan

you the f

he still couldn't believe it. "Do

ce calm. "I said no t

man who's not us

not my p

owering her voice. "Men like hi

t made my chest tighten just a lit

said. "He has be

onvinced, but she

ing her fingers lightly against the table, "are you

ghtly. "What

domly show up at high-profile events, reject bill

She wasn

oing on," I s

ond. Just stare

ack at her. "Okay...

ious

then reached into my bag a

iately lit up.

ross the tab

e saw the letter inside, her express

breathed. "

es

got

es

me, eyes wide.

ded s

ither of us said

early jumping out of her

mall smile that forme

tunity I had been working toward for years. The kind of

making ends meet. No more wondering

ntinued. "Do you even rea

smile fading jus

at the top of the letter wasn't small. It wasn't just any compa

tmo

ed slightly on the

tomorrow,

s eyes widened ag

kno

you r

as a good questi

rked for it. Pushed myself for it

lly, because this wasn't op

Tall. Glass. Impossibly sleek. The kind of place th

a moment, staring at it. This

shoulder and took a brea

efficient. People moved with purpose, like th

trying to keep my nerves from s

t smiled profes

va

ckly, then nodded. "Wel

thing to ca

top floor," she added. "So

or. Of

doors closed, my reflection stared back at me-calm, co

. No turnin

was quieter up here, more... controlled

st immediately. Sharp su

" he said. N

es

Adr

about the way he looked at me-like he was al

low

too quiet, too important, unti

to me. "He's e

ntence made my stomach

lready opened th

alf a second, the

fr

m, composed, watching me like he ha

b

eath

in his eyes said this wasn't