close, with broad shoulders that strained the fabric of his plain grey t-shirt. His hands were

ng okay?" His voice

eing a kind face made my composure crumble. I forced a wobble into

the floor as if I were too ashamed to meet his gaze. "It's my boyfri

ive across town. I was just wondering... I know this is a huge thing to ask... if I could

msel in distress. It was a role I despised,

ly from surprise to concern. He stepp

't be silly. Co

sh-cut pine and lemon cleaner, not stale pizza. It was tidy, but lived-in. A half-finished wooden toy boat sat on t

g a space on the comfortable-looking co

hank you," I mumbled, si

in the armchair opposite me, giving me space. He picked up the toy boat and a small block of wood, his hands

lence, I spoke up again,

n't important." I looked at him, letting a single tear trace a path

his carving, and his eyes were full of a

not righ

it almost made me cry for real. Mark

e gaining a bit of strength. "I just... I don

for a few landlords in this neighborhood. I know there's a small studio apartment that just opene

despair. "Really? That would be... amazin

all him for you now. I'll tell him you're a friend of mine

ed me as a responsible, quiet professional. Within an hour, he had arranged for me to see the

with genuine gratitude. I pulled my wallet out of my pu

dred dollars and h

at me, a flicker of something unrea

take that. I'm just

is hand. "You're taking time away from your

ngers around the bills. "Okay. But only if you let m

ed my lips. "That s

e gave me a fresh set of sheets and a pillow,

th a tiny kitchen and bathroom, but it was clean and had a big window that let in the morning light. I to

rk essentials, and a few bags of clothes. Mark wasn't there. A gaudy

the stairs, I felt a wave of relief so strong i

n a folding chair Liam had loaned me, I felt a sense

my computer, my phone buzz

y, Brittany's gala was a huge success. Made some killer contact

t a dismissive, arrogant message that

lying. My eyes drifted to the window of my new ap

lf. I wasn't just going to survive. I was going t

eeling spread through my chest. I had a fee