The love we couldn't keep

ntest smile curving her lips before her eyes even opened. Her body felt unusually light, like she'd drifted off insid

athing beside her remind

was sti

and falling. His dark curls were messy, his face relaxed. A ghost of a

replayed in a flash-the kiss, the heat, the way she'd melted in his arms like

here when I woke up," he murm

"And I was hoping I

his smile didn't completel

just... don't know

s waist. "Maybe you don't have to do anything rig

y of the morning light, their tangled legs bene

m engaged, right?"

ight from happening. That wasn't confusion. That was histo

t a movie, Daniel. It's real l

et's fa

're talking like someone

once. That

o wake up beyond her windows. A car horn blared in the distance. Somewhere, a do

nding up and clutching the sheet ar

catching her wris

ispered. "Don't

tly releasing her h

k. The water scalded her skin, but it still co

stared back at her accusingly. Her brush hovered in her hand, unmoving. The colors in her mind-so vivi

table. She didn't need to check

so

stop thinking about you. Friday

owly and picke

ere. Can't wa

ly did, she stared at the message like it had been writte

day at the gallery where she pretended

d. I'm not asking for permissi

n hand, reading the message ov

he same-but because she did.

ught no clarity. Ins

nannounced, balancing two c

Instagram. That's how I

weak smile. "I

n of spiraling is silent and artistic. You stop posting. You pa

aring the same rob

t's the one you wore last week w

er with a groan. "I

en took a big s

hat man walks in after ten years and suddenly you

ean for it

it

eng

Who you don't lo

ed. "That's

e Jason. He's kind, stable, sweet. But he doesn'

. "Then why does choosing

uld be. But love like that?" Zoe sm

the place that made her feel grounded. Her sanctuary. She turned on the dim lights and walk

ini

the center. Harsh st

ed up th

h pinks, streaking it with gold. Like healing. Like

f she'd end up wi

if she was doing

time in days, she

elt a