The Wrong Man At The Right Time

g with, dear?-looping in her head like a chant meant to curse her. Even now, brushing her teeth, staring at her reflection, she didn't r

ecoming a shadow in her bloodstream. But she knew Evelyn had seen it, and worse, recognized it. Like s

the kitchen, muffled by cereal a

in her hair, mascara smudged in pla

oaned. "Jesus. You didn't sleep.

sle

dad or the son hau

gers around the too-hot mug Z

d frost like she was headed to court, not your crusty

ike maybe it would offer

ws what,

thing's...

e word out of the air. "Babe. That man's hand has been on your spine. His

mouth. Closed it.

ible. That man is older. Powerful. Dangerous. And let's not forget-y

ed. "She said somet

inked.

e're repeat

worked for them, right

Just on weekends. I was only there once. Ev

ask what

epping. I thought she broke something. Or maybe took so

raile

l abandoned. "You th

He said her name. Like he'd bee

fu

ea

n between them,

to get out

can

hy

e when he looks at me, I don't feel small. I feel... seen. Like he al

remember that when everythin

-

hame. Tessa moved like glass-cracked but functional, sharp at the edges, moments

ri

the department head like he wasn't poison in a tailored jacket. He d

rned. Thei

ept w

e fol

thing at first-just leaned against the wall lik

pposed to be h

a mee

the

head. "With

mile. "That'

dn't bl

houl

n do

di

oser. "Tell m

N

re sh

m n

ice dropped. "Is

eyes flashing. "Why ar

, soft but firm. "You're the one

e whispered, the words slipping o

tself. "Maybe I'm just trying to see

and sure, like he already

-

idn't wa

. There was no subtlety anymore, no silk over the blade. Just hee

our mother's

ine straight. "Y

I knew how she cried when we let her go. I

breath

mething she was never mea

not

g. "But you're making the same

at a t

your place here... walk away. Now. Before what little future you'

way thick with pe

-

s off dusty plastic bins like they might hold answers. At the bottom, bene

e, a

ars ago. Half-ri

have let it go that fa

ed into water

it, the words ri

a c

it away, ha

didn't come until

r barefoot, expecting Zara o

got was a

e bl

n

si

otog

r, younge

ide her

His hand resting at her hi

rned i

in cle

n't repeat. I

reath lef

e stopped pretending t

was l

was