a meaningless buzz. The business associate he was meeting was already being sea

ng across from him at a table just like that one, her face glowing as she told him she thou

rl was a physical blow. It was a picture of a life he shou

r's across the crowded room. There was no surprise in his expre

blood run cold, used his thumb to wipe a tiny smudge of sauce from the corner of Chloe Ashfo

-hot wave that threatened to pull him under. He wanted to stride acro

a constant, mocking reminder of his powerlessness. This feeling-this utter lack

te was standing beside him, a concerned look o

ht they ached. "No. Nothing," he lied, the word tasting like

. He watched as the little girl, Luna, knocked over her glass of milk. He saw Chloe and Julian move in perfect, prac

a family. A rea

turn of the knife in his gut. It was a relentless

im. The loss of control was t

't take i

shly against the floor. "I'm sorry," he said curtly to

taurant, not daring to look back. I

watched him go, her

in. "Objecti

yes like chips of ice,

n from the storm raging inside him. He had physically escaped, but the image of that family was seare