-

t him to keep

wrong side of the table, half-smiling, fully ignored. He was too polished, t

ned to me like I was the most

es I didn't laugh at and the toasts I wasn't included in. But the weight

hat low, controlled voice that fel

edge of his plate, "tastes like a

d in velvet. The way he said it, like it was me

stop myself, I laugh

heard my own laughter. It felt foreign - like it

my mouth, stealing a

idn't lo

rse he

fundraising gala. She giggled and touched his sl

looked bac

But something in

id under my breat

interrup

ked a

readable - but still

aid with a slight tilt of his head.

ath hi

ut because he was right in a

looked down at my untouched plate and

-

ged on, I noticed

nted Rafael'

. Women tossed compliments like baited hooks. Even Lillian, for all her poise

xhausted from being this desired." Rafael gave her the

unsure - but he didn't elaborate. He turned slightly back

't flir

confi

was. What it was doin

saw

-

rt ar

and delicate and g

ng for a perfume commercial. One of the women at

he gushed. "Rose g

d. "Mmhmm. It

mach t

ok at it again to r

I had once stared at for days in a catalog. I'd left it open on the coffee

be obsessed with shiny things." But now

Da

not

ok a sip of wine like sh

le, a habit I hadn't shaken since the miscarriage. T

-

ng conversation, Rafael's voic

looked the most

voice

paused

ed. Damian tu

g moment, the r

fr

asn't aware of the grenade he had just drop

believing sound. "Excuse me?"

not yo

iffened.

, gesturing toward Lillian with a tilt of his head. "

s smile

men stoppe

He didn't push. But each word w

about her. While you let someone else take her place. So forgive me," he added

hand clenched around his wine glass.

sh. N

of a tattoo peek out from beneath his sleeve - something inked a

turned

Intent

slightly - enough

it had always belonged there. "I enjoyed

lady. Kind. A litt

e faintest hi

our husban

walke

ith u

cert

ispers, tension, embarrassed lau

as stil

olding

laying th

he said

poke to me,

-

, it go

arm before we ev

hissed. "Are you throwing y

ll away. "Dam

t you? Pathetic. Do you even

e sharp. Spit

. Not because

him to see how little hi

ted with a pout, clinging to his arm. "I

e that, he t

ce changed - gentler now.

nding alone

-

dn't

n't s

e car. Starte

t in s

ard. Ran my finger

L DE'

was

er. No

hat felt heav

spere

fae

us. Something expensive. Somethi

dn't c

ready f

uld reme

ld rememb

eople who watched me crumbl