ida

cking indifference, shining as if the

bed before D

The routine was pure muscle memory. Grind the beans.

ead, I was buil

and opened the notes a

Evidence

the stairs and shoved t

mbled, walking i

. His fingers brushed mine. I di

ched the throat that had spoken those words

e said, glancing at me

I said. "The b

He checked his watch. "I

like the cold trail of a s

he said au

afe," I

ront door clicke

't collapse. I didn'

to the

Every pair of shoes he said made my legs look lo

of black trash ba

he plastic. I threw the Lou

aning. It was

out the money. I didn't care about the status. Tho

mart home panel

I deleted his admin acces

t it felt like taking a breath of a

he living room when I hea

't Dere

he window. A r

he walked around to the passe

n step

ng a white dress that cost

l

She looked at the house-my house-l

but I forced my fe

nt door

e clinging to him li

e saw me standing there in my sweatpant

d sweet, like sacchar

He didn't look asha

to stay with us for a few days.

't ask.

I asked. My vo

ward me. She looked me up and down, her eyes li

ten... big,

Else. That's

kling, empty sound

poured water for her. He knew exactly ho

iled at him, a secret, intimate

anned for us last month. He cancelle

w. He was

loud enough to cut through their silent communion. "D

smile f

e front door

n wal

e walked in like h

the room and grinned

space, standing too close. I could smell his expensi

the market soon," he whispered. Hi

fr

he continued, his eyes raking ove

oser, his lips

ict, Aleida. No crying. No

my skin

othing," he hissed. "Jus

ching us. He saw Edison whispering

d not

of his water a

t. The final crack

at Edison. I d

s so tight my nails cut into

him dead

of my fac

e stepped back, laughing ner

nfusion crossing his face. He ex

't expe

toward the stairs. I

room," I said. "D

airs, feeling thei

room door and le

ut. I slid dow

didn

ty closet where his

ir games. Let the

dea what I wa