Jo

n the counter. Rhoda huffed out a laugh, as she leane

a heart of gold," Rhoda said, eyeing me from the c

gold. Nope. I was convinced he doesn't even have one to begin with. All I ever saw

r as I rinsed the mug, the water slipping through my fi

, sensing the weight of my silence, a

" she added, a little too quickly. "We could have the whole buildin

offer. As much as I wanted to leave to avoid Aaron's suffocating pr

da,

s together and giving me her best puppy eyes. A tiny

ine it sent a pang through my heart. "Just because the asshole is leaving," I added,

ook my head, picking up her mug and rinsing it off. As much as I adored her, Rhoda could be impulsive,

ing a wedge between us, we'd always been the kind of duo that bounced

as the house was beautiful,

-

beautiful. But there was something about being there in person, with t

ens of Spain always flocked around it. There was a certain magic to this place that

ng the Plaza Mayor, the royal palace, the El

ood, staring at the park, my body sweaty and tingling with

ng my brow, but when I glanced at h

ng my eyes at her. There was s

, her excitement bubbling over, fa

m," she said with a little laugh, like i

d suddenly lost her mind.

en chatting with this stranger for the last two months, and I had a sinking feeling

id, my voice firmer no

muttered, but I rolled my eyes. It was always the

, digging into my bag and coming u

ird looks, but I didn't ca

d," she pointed out, eyeing the items in my hand. "You can't come with me. It

I snapped, shivers running down my spine as memories

o.

een you and Lucas, but you barely know the ma

ched the pepper spray from my hand. "But I'm still going

ng this. We'll go b

nately, Jo, you don't get to decide for me," she muttered before sau

owd, and realized she was right. I couldn't decide for her. She was a grown-ass w

mach growing heavier with every step. I boarded the bus that would take me back to Aaron's ho

egretted not sticking with Rhoda. Being alone, especi

in my throat. Aaron was home, leaning on the kitche

utside, washed over me before mov

id, traitorous pulse that sped up every time

the silence, sharp and cold, the wo

the room and closed the door behind me. But she was his

ng with for two months," I said as dryly as

icked to me

e was a new edge to his voice no

ired of this. "Exac

er?" His voice grew hard, his anger rippling just beneath the surfac

rning to face him wit

meet with someone she's known for two mo

ull height, stepping forward. The space between us wasn't muc

r around a city she barely knows at night," he grow

ide, a cold smile tugging

r?" I said lightly, acting as though the tension buzzi

ainst the window, my back slamming into the glass as his hand wrapped

beneath that, something else simmered, something darker, more da

dripping with venom. His chest pressed into mine, his hips close enough that I could

said, my voice cool. Not betrayi

he suddenly released me and spun me around. I gasped as I my body hit the cold

His hands slid down my arm, then my waist. I could feel his rough fing

ok you right here, right now, against this

through me. I should push him away, should tell him to

see you try,