's
ning until it hurts. The skin where my ring
st time all night, I realize, I
omes out. My throat burns, and all I ca
"Come on. What movie
pe under my ey
y bag and rests a hand on the small o
ays quietly. "I'
makes me feel even smaller. I take out my phone, hoping to distrac
inks. He act
n, but before I can cry, Micah is back with
He raises a b
smile tugs at my
ve it," he says, ha
by side towar
I stop short. "Wait
the third row. "I figured y
didn't...buy the who
he seat beside him. "Come on, I know you w
anyway. "You'
miling again,
y to forget everything. The sound of the movie fills the space between us. I ev
ughter
him, but he's alre
heek self-consciously. "Do
ttle. "Yeah.
k, his large hand cupping my face. His fingers are wa
ince anyone touched
t pull
ed, Eva?" he
ing back a li
ou and
my throat. "We're..
rise. "He
y head. "
se flashing across his featu
other," I murmur. "But he's not
m. Even now, that b
't run out, Eva. Respect did.
"You don't kn
ezing your accounts and letting you
, please. I don't want t
this, where ar
rce a small smile.
aves no room for a
, plea
" His voice softens,
"A cheap hotel, okay?
hes the pale mark where my ring used to be. "Your account
n I'll start applyin
me," he say
eze.
an stay there until you figure things out
"No, Micah. If th
interrupts softly. "Just let me tak
houl
y face toward him. "Let me cook for you. Run
ly gentle. It's the kind of look that makes
f his jaw, the warmth in his b
" I whisper, h
"You're scared of b
part.
outh. "Then relax. I'm only g
ally do. But something in h
. "But I'm not st
." His smi
icah stands, grabs my bag, and off
hen we step outside. Hi
g, sir.
ide. The leather smells fa
rough his phone; I'm staring out the window, pret
empty. No messages
al St
nly rests on my t
ays softly. "Y
lie, but my vo
brushes against my skin, slow and
eins running like ri
, I trace one wi
es sharp
ps sends a shiver down my spin
ayal still stings, yet here I am,
When the car stops in front of his house, the dri
r of u
, then trail slowly down to my ankle.
rs, voice rough. "The
don't know wh
ens, burning through me. "Te
y ears. The air betw
leans closer, his breath fanning my lips, all
t me,"
. His eyes are molten, filled with som
." My voi
s, his breath brush
s tumble out. "I need to forget
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