NO STRINGS, JUST LIES

n't s

er that

same hallway where I'd kissed Caleb go

e hallway contain

ith R

d never

t distinguish

e penthouse windows as if no

hing

l of blankets that made him look li

r, cradling a mug I'd not s

u o

s voice

seen him

ook up. "D

uld be a good p

nd looked a

a

mug on t

loser. "Ca

one across t

, clenching his

ow when he spok

this la

o a

on the counter as

" I said. "I don't even recall

anymore. He's trying t

trying to make m

t that gir

es it still f

h his nose, then did som

a chair

do

asped

t pull

rm. Strong. And

eyes to his. "Us. This situation. All of this facade. But you'

hy

idea how to make

y. "Then don't belie

red me e

ly three breakdowns I did not have, I wa

rner phone,"

"Planning on committing murder

me. Breaking down my socials. Numbe

nni

l behind him, pulled open a drawer

phones around jus

" he said. "The

e myself being lost in my

t here

or this. For not making

w the history to wan

d at eac

lo

so

omet

at. "I'll be out

ld I wan

you said this ends w

s cha

don

ing at me like I'm not the

maybe you

ce, the gap between us

th

monitor

whimp

ent was

and annoyed both.

. "He's g

Noah would

ttle body too hot, then too c

The gentle singing that once quiet

ng wo

ig couch in the living room, arms around his small bo

see Rhyla

felt

ft. "Do you want

He's

t on the couc

ed on me like I was somethin

a weakness," he said. "That if someone

ined s

at..." He shook his head. "It doesn't loo

cracked

t," I said softly.

me someone mad

d to reg

deception started, I wanted to b

wasn't just a

s feeling with him wasn

iss you. Not for the cameras. Not f

ath st

houl

ou wan

le

d

eane

my cheek. Slow.

ted m

hed and w

egan

th st

hed, quie

him tight. "That's the se

. "Third time

push yo

in the

said. "I'm not

k with a baby in my arms and a

velope was dropped off at the

si

ot

s of

de the café. Inside the

is taken

m of the stack w

ing. What happens when

envelope with

, I didn't ju

t sta