ey'

I expected the moment I

self was punishing me for thinking I could w

still felt exposed. Not from the c

hael

ide bleed. Who offered me a blank check

t knowing where I was going. I didn't care. I just needed to kee

I was crying until a te

weakness.

age. Fr

the hell he a

woke up in strange beds with strange men

ept

this

ed in my purse

nd time,

ri

tell me you didn't wa

o l

reply. I

ame at the cost of your silence? That you had said no wit

d the ph

. But it wasn't fr

own n

r move. Now I

pped w

a second. Not from di

t was. No sig

write his name. His words l

g to get off the street. I ordered a coffee just to

s wouldn't s

from

antici

en like Michael d

nt conse

*

hael

came throug

nd her like a cape. Her chin tilted upward, eyes red

Rattled.

ched i

as a

the predator sh

check. She hadn't called

ker in her eyes whe

had f

e s

art of

t. Damon had outdone himself. Every clause, every consequence, every go

ould r

rse she

always made su

. The city didn't know what

on, she

sn't done wit

even

*

Night (Riley

ey's

dn't

peak when I

rse on the floor, and curled up on the couch lik

ch had nothing in it. And my mind.

y he to

ke to me like I

d it, even when

ock cl

ck slightly smudged, her h

voice breathless. "Where

t look u

an answer,"

id no

ched in front of me. H

't answer your phone. And now you're sittin

oice s

lk t

her, really looked at her, my best

mistake," I

rrowed. "What k

llowed

t with s

. "Okay... n

hotel

ws rose.

an I met a

ow I'm pa

Michael. The same Michael

went

n st

Are you insane

is," I interrup

at me. "Did

No

you wa

ed. Then n

scares me," I said quietl

d her arms.

t her

a note asking me to be his girlfriend...

s jaw

ept

rrangement. Said I

back down

d yo

p. Told him t

smile. She

rward, her voice ba

ook like he still h

, biting the in

use h

d that I wa