n John

Kimber's sofa. It was small, but I sl

relentless vibration of my phone. A s

creen without a flicker of emotion. I sil

what I was doing, and gave me a thumbs-up. "Go

system, but it made me feel sharp and awake. "I need to see

t first, you need to eat." She point

te, but I force

o leave, my phone rang a

ged me, "Answer it. Wh

's voice, tight with suppressed anger.

ugh. "They were dis

hiding in your poor friend's crappy apartment? D

st to repeat this nonsense, I'm hanging

the background. It was quiet, but I heard it clearly. "Armani, h

d call button. I recognized

A name I refused to even c

e phone, then quickly tried to cover. "Carlee

s my own, chimed in, full of playful complaint. "What TV

rld st

woman I had trusted with my deepest secrets, the

rned to ice

d suddenly weak. It slipped from

my side, grabbing my arm. "Carl

t no sound came out.

mple betrayal. A conspiracy.

s so desperate for a divorce. Why Im

ver me. I ran to the bathroom and retched into the toilet, but th

he door. "Carleen! Open

my reflection in the mirror. A pale

rock bottom. I was wro

, again and again, trying to for

ber was waiting, her f

e of strength I had, I said, "Kimber

morphed into shock, then in

I knew there was something wr