, evading her question abo

licker of something –

ural now. Her trust, already so er

n are yo

yet. It's

g on her forearm, a dark s

ntation with Ju

ent to the bathroom,

bbing antiseptic on a sma

ced but

felt strange, like an old h

on Julian and his drama. My a

e careful," I said

too far, and there won't be anyone t

ing. My way of saying goodby

nfused. "What

Dramatic irony. She had no idea

, in bed, she tu

s tracing my jawline. An at

k her hand,

tired

ment was visible, b

wal was a wall betwe

ulian arrived at ou

isplay of

gh for the neighbors to hear. He was hol

y and entitled, ech

situation. His manipulative

tanding by the

see you there." His

lously oversized tedd

a place for this, will

rstanding of my role, or rather, his deliber

me as

react, Ava st

s is Ethan.

ertion of my position, howe

faltered f

e. Husban

Ava, his charm o

oom. "Remember this hideous lamp, Ava? Your au

nting? We bought it

for three years, objects I now realized held deep

a physical blow. Her long-standing attachment t

placeholder. Dramatic irony, t