p, and the Worst

nah'

I would have stayed in bed and wrapped myself in a blanke

t

rsed polite answers in my head, and convinced mys

have know

are qualified, you are capable, you are not the girl who as

cre

tched.

e a small boy chasing a red

a

ful, cinematic way that neve

er didn'

idn't see

my brain could start scre

outed, drop

ra

kill me. I just remember the sound of tires screeching and the feel of small a

was sharp a

spinning violently. The ball rolled harmlessly to the

hing was noise and c

sil

at me with wide

reathlessly, wincing

kly. "I-I was

kly. "Roads are te

rd us, panic writte

him into her arms. Then she turned

ed to

my leg betraye

, grabbing my kn

rt?" she as

t's what women do even when they're clearly n

"You should s

," I blurted, immedi

nd trying not to cry in public, prio

t. Adam clung to her hand, staring at m

," he said

d. "Try not to give your m

gri

th every step, my shoe filling with an uncomfo

was sweaty, flustered, and desperately trying not to

sight, I faile

-

at me in a disbelieving way before dire

as impossibl

s. A fountain that probabl

ng like a model from a magazine carved into

om the hik

urse

the universe has a

could practically he

led. The kind of man who probably woke up looking like this

," he said,

cing a smile that probably c

flicked

my

, betraying me by refusi

ightly. "Are

No. This is just my nat

le

ared

'm injured. But I promi

t, but his expression ha

said carefully, "is a

'm very responsible. Usually.

w tigh

rail," he added. "Combined

h

n

runk today,

e defense I mea

ightly. "I didn't acc

to," I said. "

pa

I need someone reliable around my chil

an alcoholic,

n't de

at rise t

ietly. "One night. I made a mi

sto

aid. "I don't thi

t harder tha

elf to my feet despite the pa

ed to

n a small vo

ad

arned was the little boy I

ard us, eyes lighti

e exclaimed.

min f

inued proudly. "She fell and hurt her

shed down l

"Sir," she said, "she's the one I told you about

turned to

said. "Tha

h I prefer reckless h

e, something flic

il

nc

studying my leg.

was hoping to ignore

t how inju

earnin

be

ly, he huffed ou

there-b

efore you fall and give m

bench, Adam beamed at me l

ked at me di

s a m

a lia

ething...

said finally. "And a job

despite

onsible to say

st impression became the beginni