u?" my mother gushed, completely ob

ine. "Of course. It's goo

is eyes told a different story. They were stripping me

unable to speak. My thr

u left," my dad said, clapping him

nly. It was disorienting. I had a lot of business to take care of." He smiled warmly at my parents.

played the part of the gratefu

s, about the new equipment he'd funded, the new contracts his connections had secure

ng food around my plate, t

g," Ethan said, looking from my mother to my

flicker

mouse being wa

e turning his full attention on me. "Lily," h

ou're thriving in art s

ine," I

t you and Mark," he continued

at boy was no good for he

ir. "It's always wise to remove unnecessary obst

s talking about my resistance. He was telling me that he was here to

attered on

ned. "Lily, are you alright? Yo

pushing my chair back. "I

in the same room with