Note from a stranger

pte

of Yes

turned silent. Eli Dawson, whose name was whispered and his past was dragged through the muck of suspicion and animosity, was at the center of the storm. The town had once rallied behind him w

w extravagant parties that smelled like manipulation, showed her off in places Eli had once considered safe, and spre

ence when they met. Once a refuge, her smile now pierced him like a knife. He had no faith in her intentions. He also couldn't shake the memory of the time she saved him from himself. Some of Eli's oldest companions

wn over the course of the days. Behind it stirred jealousy, longing, suspicion, a

ng. Her low, reassuring laughter carried faintly into the street. Was

rn the rules of any game that was being played. Not for love. Not for r

ance and was bleached blonde one week and dyed burgundy the next. Marla was a hairstylist by trade and a troublemaker by nature. She had a talent for making beauty look good while also living messy lives within it. She danced harder, loved hard, and believed that color and chaos should drown out pain. S

n," she'd say, cigarette dangling from her lips, eyebrow arched, glas

celain." "But I'm a damn wildfire. They should stop putting me in glass boxes. Her way of life, an exhilarating parade of romance, freedom, and the odd 3 a.m. error, was never about being used. As she had stated, Marla never allowed herself to be hookerized. She wasn't trying to sell herself. She was just being. She collected experiences like others collected shoes, and even if the trail behind her was cluttered with failed flings and unanswered messages,

sed the salon and met Clara at their favorite rooftop bar. The city was gold-dipped and humming below them. Clara, sip

n't stand out. He wasn't loud. He just saw her. Not the firecracker v

her previously and had been looking for her for a dozen lives. By midnight, Clara had excused herself, smiling knowingly. Marla remained. She and Daniel ended up walking half the city, talking about music, their worst heartbreaks,

. He did not attempt to corner her.

ime in years, her answer wasn't flip

brought coffee to her salon. He fixed her leaky sink without asking. He left notes under her pillow when sh

worked. That's w

ing without explanation for hours. Telling Clara, "He's just too...nice. It's suf

oesn't want to tame you." He desires to wa

didn't

ou are afraid I will trap you. But I'm not trying to cage you,

hung between them. Could she

rain without needing

for the first time, Marla Kent-fierce