Five Years, A Fading Love

y pale. She leaned against a wall for support,

l, but his eyes kept darting toward her

roat. "Cayla, tak

r, a way to cr

errelle out of the club. They were walking past a large

iberately pitched herself forward

Cherrelle floundering in the fountain and Cayla s

conditioned to se

p bruising. "I warned you," he se

throbbing. The alcohol, the fever, the con

ed, yanking her forw

her denials. His fingers

sson you'll never forget," h

d her into t

loded in her head as she went under. He ordered his bodyg

r and saw him lift Cherrelle out, cradli

use. Grafton was sitting by the bed, his

e you were sick?" he a

r. "Would it have stopped you?"

ick with tension. He lit a

subject. "You h

N

ver lie to me

er eyes empty of hope. She knew it was usele

thick file onto the bed. "Cherrelle's birthday is nex

owers, foods, music. Her fingers trembled. She remembered how Justen had kept

fton's sharp voice cut

e whispered. "You mus

eparations. As she moved, her phone slid off the nig

ened. His breath c

, with her head resting on the shoulder of a young man.