Always a Stand-In

ie's

el's collar felt like

e dim bedroom lighting did nothing to

mi

storm brewing inside me. Maybe I was imagi

yb

o

ts screame

his shirt. The silk fabric felt cool against my fingertips. I

nt, but unde

Or proof of something I

iver ran

d, memories flashing through my head-every late-night meeting, ev

truth I had been

el's

, exhaling as exhaustion

en a mistake. Meetin

away had bee

ne that made me feel like a fool-tangl

the bedroom. The moment I saw Sophie sitting at the edge of the b

turn. Did

ick-charged with s

hie? Why are yo

inally turned her head to look at

e wer

estion. But

ou, the company had an

to

st tig

oice, but something in her

," she said quietly, sta

ed to the bed-an

shi

st

mn

forced myself to stay calm. "So

is

breath cat

er this time. "Because if you tell me you

outh, but not

kn

truth, but eno

g a careful step forward.

e let out a shaky breath, looking away for a second before

frustration and gui

t want

ling th

destroy e

ie's

dn't

ence wa

ugh my chest, but I refu

ding people together. But now, standing in front o

s were bey

unsteady breath, t

ped forward

d, stopping him

rm. "If you're not ready to tell me the

ned. "It's not

ould be,"

nt, something be

slept t

nspoken words. The room was too quiet, too still-except for

dn't

ight as

tween us fel

she? I wanted to push, to demand,

r held

tted it, there would

el's

shut, pretendin

beside me, stiff, unmoving.

ake, just

r of us sa

r into my arms and tell her everythin

it

as the

Stupid. I had been careful for so long, but last n

tarting to s

careful, she'd

ie's

got up. He stood by the window, dressed in a crisp

t, I just w

d. The same strong, confident CEO. But now, w

y?" I finally asked,

expression unreadable.

li

d a nod

ay something more. Th

he d

sed a quick kiss to my forehe

ou ton

ike that,

ter it closed, my heart sink

bye felt

ther of us wanted

el's

ightly, my jaw clenched as I d

t have lef

told her somet

t could

to be the one? That, at one point, I thought she would help m

ly, rubbing a h

calling. I h

I didn't know who

red me more

ie's

busied myself at the hos

eeded me. The

nd, who could barel

my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, expecting another hosp

wn Nu

hill ran do

ed into the hallway bef

le

mooth, and filled with somet

Rivers,

dropped. "W

You don't know me

ne tighter. "If

thought you should know... Dan

ounded. "E

ped with amusement. "Haven't you ever wondered why

ut on my skin. "Who

line w

allway, my breath shall

truth I had been