HIS SURROGATE

clothes clinging from hours of sweat and bleach. Her fingers, still cracked from scrubbing grout all day, curled ti

e city's favorite perfume-hot gar

low. Her building sagged against the next like it had final

er key int

ed too

d. She pushed th

d, drawers dumped out like someone had been look

epped

om the thrift store, the one she was o

uttered, stumbling

ed open. Closet empty

kbox wa

where all her money had been. Every tip. Every under-the-table gig. Four

couldn't finish. But she didn't cry. There was no time for

e pulling herself up. Her phone was still in h

gh her contacts. S

e

or wearing a robe

ok like you got mu

bbed," Em

then stepped asid

ing jabbed her thigh. Lena's apartment was small, cleaner than Emily

Lena asked, handing he

Emily said. "Cash. Electronic

sta

g into the tea like

the cops?"

ed. "With w

ss from her, legs tucked un

t's due in ten day

"There's a way to make money. Fa

this point, if it doesn't involve

nds on how you feel about b

linked.

rivate. Not through agencies. Quiet, under-the-table,

sharp and flat. "T

ansion for nine months, had her own doctor, didn't pay for

poof-a baby and

ot quite t

ised an

n leaned in. "There

rse the

't be a

ed. "Weirdl

know the...eq

's gr

e doesn't do IVF. He w

wants to sleep wi

whatever. I told you,

t surrogac

d. "These people don't trust labs. Th

r. "How do you eve

back. I didn't go through with

re you te

gonna drown, at least know there's a li

ort breathless soun

t

tled betwee

"What else

tility. Background check, though... with you, that

meet

ompatible.' If the chemistry's there.

stomach

ne," she s

dded. "

thing out of a da

ind with a red cover

steady now, but her brain was buzzing. She hat

pounding on the door. Her stomach growling. The hollow

she get?" Emil

"Last I heard, she bought a condo in M

aled. Lon

uck am I ta