MI

ad never

inct. Control your reactions. Control the room. Control the narrative. Peopl

still cut

shat

ecise. In

d. Crystal scraped across marble as c

oom i

dn't

ettled people more t

te drops. I was aware of every eye turning, every

ze, she stood direc

hield she already knew wouldn't work. Her posture was stif

ands trembled, though she tried to

focu

sor

came fast.

d not

behind her. A whisper skimmed the

did I meet

. Di

it wasn't alone. There was tension b

ble," I sa

ettled lik

tened. "It wa

ieved

nged n

. "Intent doesn'

hin l

But it w

he said quickly. "I'll

almost

a

past he

r out o

is. No ra

obeyed im

ng before I'd asked, already steering her a

idn't

idn't

ed away, she lo

br

gr

tions stitched themselves back

uption w

n't have

ontinued a

shaken. People spoke at me about growth

cally. Correct tone.

my focu

ned cuff , th

r res

r. To shrink. To apologize until

ha

ured later, the name

Forge

t it l

mia

d me without

lways

irely too familiar. She positioned herself at my side like

racted tonight,"

m n

if my answer amused her. It irr

o the spot where the mess had been erased

as ha

of her glass. Too close. I shifted away f

slowly. "I don't to

a fraction. She masked i

't miss her,"

n't cu

assum

her then. Re

Always two steps ah

d after a be

I felt it ,the brief reca

something charming. "You always d

ity in her t

of your evening,

mis

ear she resented it , before stepping away. I

ormation the way oth

he'd picked up

was silent w

si

ithout looking at it. The stai

ow mat

ations would follow. Conversat

d not belong

ooking the city , the lights, the ord

er ap

rest

hout leverag

il

y, irritation t

ns didn't anno

lin