d the dishes, Bella and Julian slumped onto the cou

documentary about a jewel heist,

was plain black, the other had cartoon pizzas. Julian, sprawled at the

mumbled, still wa

ian said, tapp

she said, sinking into the cus

e always tired whe

him. "Winning? Is that what you ca

sprawled farther across the co

hoving at his fo

e a me

ovable menace,

atab

lutching his che

counselor. Trul

ted to h

uit pending. Emo

ted, final

inutes, the kind that only existed between peopl

- cluttered with doodles, crumpled napkins, and a half-eaten bag

e quiet first,

illed it toda

etending not to hear the s

doing

nudging her foot aga

that kid he

en. She hated when he got all earnest on her - it

one who notices,"

e. Cameras. Headlines. People

e," Juli

ways n

ed, looking

t watching her like he could see all

a pillow a

eesy," she muttere

the moment broken, the usual misc

ut you l

gica

nd reached f

hing less depressing before you

quote l

ted a case during an argu

, kicking his

was re

to sue me for ch

abomination and I

streaming options until he landed on something ridiculou

ella stealing half his blanket and Juli

e world kep

ent with cheap wine and dumb drawin

-

ounding of a war dr

hat's what

hand to her forehead,

r shoulders, her legs

pright felt like c

o one in particular, swin

, making a beeline for the bathroom. She didn't even bother glancing at the mirror as she

g amazing hit her hal

ian had finally decided he was tir

im at the table, carefully placing a plate down

up, spotted h

eauty," he said, way too ch

roan, slumping forward until her ch

over by a truck," she m

steaming mug of coffee and setting

e than condolen

rst, di

gh to glare at him but gra

bacon, toast stacked high - all way too perfect f

tes, the only sounds were clinking forks and the

rs. "ohh before I forget, som

learily at him

Yea

etters. On

ward the small stack s

yet. She took another bite o

ugh the envelopes absently: one bill, one ad, and one heavier env

ir

onto the table n

th them later,"

ad - meetings, casework, end

ed the last bit of bacon into her mouth, downed

already heading toward

ing a

alled af

your laptop this

f over her shoulder

ed sharply in dark jeans, a navy blazer, and

shoved the unopened letter inside too without thinking muc

he doorway, sipping his

anybody today

he tossed back, fl

nd she slipped out the door into the crisp morning

r