nking about him. But I wa
ila's voice cut through my though
the past few seconds. "Hmm?" I said, picking up my cup
me from across the small
not g
nd I know e
p, avoiding her
Black
ost c
ing her arms with sati
him," I said quickly, m
eacted like someone said your
the cup down. "It w
conversation," she sa
es
ted Ethan
you the f
he still couldn't believe it. "Do
ce calm. "I said no t
man who's not us
not my p
owering her voice. "Men like hi
t made my chest tighten just a lit
said. "He has be
onvinced, but she
ing her fingers lightly against the table, "are you
ghtly. "What
domly show up at high-profile events, reject bill
She wasn
oing on," I s
ond. Just stare
ack at her. "Okay...
ious
then reached into my bag a
iately lit up.
ross the tab
e saw the letter inside, her express
breathed. "
es
got
es
me, eyes wide.
ded s
ither of us said
early jumping out of her
mall smile that forme
tunity I had been working toward for years. The kind of
making ends meet. No more wondering
ntinued. "Do you even rea
smile fading jus
at the top of the letter wasn't small. It wasn't just any compa
tmo
ed slightly on the
tomorrow,
s eyes widened ag
kno
you r
as a good questi
rked for it. Pushed myself for it
lly, because this wasn't op
Tall. Glass. Impossibly sleek. The kind of place th
a moment, staring at it. This
shoulder and took a brea
efficient. People moved with purpose, like th
trying to keep my nerves from s
t smiled profes
va
ckly, then nodded. "Wel
thing to ca
top floor," she added. "So
or. Of
doors closed, my reflection stared back at me-calm, co
. No turnin
was quieter up here, more... controlled
st immediately. Sharp su
" he said. N
es
Adr
about the way he looked at me-like he was al
low
too quiet, too important, unti
to me. "He's e
ntence made my stomach
lready opened th
alf a second, the
fr
m, composed, watching me like he ha
b
eath
in his eyes said this wasn't
/1/120480/coverbig.jpg?v=1e6d8c31160430a0a1c0f93c3759a26b&imageMogr2/format/webp)