One Year, Mrs. Blackwell
Sabrina
Ariana sits on the edge of her bed, fingers knotted in the hem of her dress, tears threatening the thick line of mascara she wore to please our father.
I kneel in front of her, smoothing my hand over her knee.
“You okay?”
She lets out a soft laugh, watery and short. “You just offered yourself up like a sacrifice, and you’re askingmethat?”
I shrug. “Well, it’s kind of my thing.”
She sniffles. “You don’t have to do this.”
I smile and brush a piece of her hair off her cheek, letting my thumb linger just long enough to remind her I’ve got her. Ialwayshave her.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t evenlikeLangston.”
“I don’t evenknowLangston.”
“Exactly!”
I glance at the doorway, making sure we’re still alone. Langston’s in my father’s office down the hall, no doubt reworking the terms of my future like it’s another line item in a spreadsheet.
And maybe it is.
I lean in closer. “Maybe I can convince him to keep it temporary. A year. Just to save face and shut everyone up.”
Ariana’s eyes widen. “You think he’ll agree?”
I pause, then grin. “I’ve talked my way into worse things.”
She gives a tiny smile, and I know that’s all she needs. Permission to let go of the guilt. She wasn’t built for battles like this.
But I was.
I press a kiss to her forehead, stand, and grab my small bag from the guest room without saying goodbye to anyone else. I don’t owe them anything—not tonight, not ever.
The air is cooler than I expected when I step outside. I tug my coat tighter around me and start walking down the long, winding road that leads out of Kensington territory. The walk helps. Always has. Even as a kid, when the house got too loud—or too cold—I’d sneak out and walk until I could breathe again.
I’m halfway down the block when headlights stretch long across the pavement behind me.
I don’t flinch.
A sleek black town car rolls up beside me, window lowering slowly.
Of course.
Langston.
“You always take midnight strolls alone?” he asks from the backseat, brow raised.
I smile. “You stalking me now?”
He doesn’t even blink. “Get in the car, Sabrina.”
