e
ttle onto my shoulders. My bag thudded onto the floor, and I dropped onto the cou
cou
tent. "I need to know why you broke off your engagement with Ethan. H
ended. "Mom," I said slowly, forcing my voice to
"But... is that really enough? Don't you think you could just forgive
really think that's something I can just... overlook?" I let my voice rise just a little, enough to make my point. "Do you remember th
onvince me that my feelings were exaggerated. "Lena, you're so dramatic
licated. I just don't lie down for people who don't deserve me. And maybe if you stopped cli
na... I just... I can't let go of him. I'v
t's not helping anyone. Especially not you. He's dragging you back and he's no
you could help me, with a little money maybe
ore bitter than amused. "Of course. T
began, sound
said, sharper than
t was tight, my mind buzzing. I hated that call, hated her persistence, and h
younger sister, Maya, she was studying arts
ven't seen a text from
cheerful and reassuring, but I was too raw, too exposed. I could feel the fatigue weighing do
he water bit at my skin, shocking me awake and stealing some of the
s while my father ignored the world. Loan sharks banging on the door while I held my sister close, whispering that everything woul
iving had been my first lesson, and I had learned early to stay cal
s's face surfa
reserve the professional distance we needed. I felt a flush of embarrassment even now, lying like that. It wasn't th
he had a one-night stand with, maybe he had a bad memory
hought about his face when I had blurted it in the parking garage. I remembered the way he had stopped himself from asking, from
furiatingly attractive. And I had given him a reason to back
eded to do. I had created boundaries. Professional boundaries. Personal boundaries. S
hat had happened, knowing the tension, knowing the lie. I reminded myself that no mat
t it. That spark. That awareness of him that made my sto
my head. It was ridiculous. I was
r was still dripping, my skin cold but tingling. I glanced at my phone, saw the text f
ust tired.
elf breathe. I reminded myself that I had made the right choices. That I had set bound
didn't remember that night, if it hadn't even left a
creditors, dodging chaos, and taking responsibility for everyone else's mista
dn't mean I
I wouldn't be thinkin
at
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