stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. I didn't turn on any

ade me flinch. Footsteps, light and c

ed out, laced with a convincing warmth. "I was so worr

dows. She found the lamp switch and flooded the room with soft light. Her face was a mask of co

id, my voice betraying n

hair. "You work too hard." She leaned in to kiss me, her perfume fil

ips brushed my cheek instead of

he knelt in front of my chair, her expres

," she murmured, her hand drifting down from my h

's when

ly styled hair, was a small, dark mark. A blemish on her flawless s

d in my mind. The casual intimacy in h

a gut punch that solidified every ugly word I had overheard. The ang

her performance. She misinter

ng to a sympathetic whisper. She leaned closer, her eyes glitterin

ne she'd used to keep me at a distance for three years. The u

of it was b

y, and she stumble

onight," I said, my voice even. "I have

rade was over. I wasn't going to wait for her father to "handle" it. I wasn't going to wait for her to spin another lie. I was leav