n Bart

s of my twenty-year history with him. My fingertip was ice-cold as I pressed send.

eful pity. I was a gladiator in the center of the arena, and they were the bloodthirsty crowd. The weight of their judgment pressed down on my shoulders, a familiar

took a step forward, his voice a low growl that vibrated wit

ph flashed in her eyes before being replaced by a soft, worried expressio

rs digging into my arm. "Are you insane?" she hissed

cocktail of delayed fear and reckless courage

up. The name displayed was one I knew by heart, one that ha

udden lull of whispers, it sounded like a thunderclap. It split t

hed hand and Bettie's desp

Necks craned. Everyone wanted to know who co

e to my ear, and t

dy and calm, a rhythm that seemed to seep through the phone and into my own

lifeline. Jealousy contorted his features, stripping away his handsome vene

a loyal bulldog protecting her c

and resonant, a calm anchor

Twenty years of biting my tongue, of swallowing my hurt, of making myself smalle

all, choked sound, a strangled n

he reporters, smelling a scandal far juicier than

meone whisper loudly. "Has Ka

eard the venomous speculation. The words were like tiny n

right beside me, Everett's voice remained imposs

I closed my eyes, and the dizzying panic was rep

ce, a weak but clear t

ity guards who had materialized, his roars of fury just

, but with this phone pressed to my ear, I had

e calm was still there, but underneath it was an unshake

on't move. I'