Page 116

“That red one you got me.”

He growls in the back of his throat. “You’re going to get me arrested tonight.”

I chuckle. “Again? Didn’t you just leave court for the other one?”

“Luckily yourboyfrienddidn’t want to press charges.”

I stare at him. “My what now?”

“You know. Scott Howard.”

I keep staring at him and he sneers.

“You can’t be serious. You don’t remember him? You went out on a date with him, almost kissed him before I clocked him with a right hook.”

“Oh!Oh, Scott Howard!”

He glares at me. “I beat the guy up and you don’t even remember him.”

I giggle. “Sorry. It’s been kind of crazy around here, to my credit.”

He smiles, leaning closer to me, his shoulder bumping mine.

We sit there for a while, basking in the sun, and it’s nice. Is this what it would have been like? If I hadn’t run? If I’d forgiven him for cheating?

Would we just be a happy little family here?

I don’t even have anyone to talk to, here. Sometimes I talk to Sofia, but it’s not like I can tell her much. It was always Beth who was my sounding board, and now she’s... just gone.

Like a candle snuffed out.

“Are you hungry?”

“Not really.” I haven’t really been hungry since the accident, but I don’t want to worry Dario further.

“You should eat a little something so you’re not sick tonight,” he urges, and I nod, getting up.

He leads me into the dining room and Sofia has already set out lunch—finger sandwiches and cut fruit.

I sit down and make myself a small plate of grapes, oranges, and a few sandwiches.

I eat but everything tastes like cardboard. I sip water and it’s unsatisfying, too.

Nothing seems to matter anymore, and I don’t know how to get back to normal.

I head back upstairs, taking my time putting on some light brown makeup to make my gray eyes pop and curling the ends of my hair.

I wiggle into the dress. It's a tight fit but everything goes where it’s supposed to. I even spritz on a little perfume, hoping it will make me feel more... human.

More alive.

I step out into the hallway in my stilettos and when I descend the stairs, Dario is waiting for me below. He’s wearing a three-piece suit, his hair slicked back and his dark eyes unfathomable as he looks up at me.

“I knew that color would look amazing on you.”

I smile slyly. “You didn’t pick it for the color.”

I jiggle my cleavage and Dario curses.