"No, Harper. I'm not letting itdictatemy life, just like I won't letyoutell me how I should feel or act. This ismylife."
She finally stands, purse in hand. "When you've cooled off, we can talk again."
I smile, this time, it's genuine. "I've never been colder, Harper. Being betrayed by the man you loved and devoted your life to... it freezes you from the inside out. No heater can fix that. You've chosen your side, and that's fine."
“Oh, please. We’re not in kindergarten anymore. This isn’t about taking sides—”
I step aside and lift a hand, silencing her. “You know the way out. I won’t be escorting you. And next time, do me a favor. Call ahead, or don’t come at all if it’s only to say what I’ve already heard.”
Harper gives me a look of disappointment, as ifI'mthe one who's failed her, then turns on her heel and walks out. The door slams harder than it needs to, and I can't help thinking she's the one who never really left kindergarten behind.
I linger there, wondering if Felicity feels the same… if that's why she hasn't reached out. We were always closer, and the thought of losing her actually stings. But if holding on to her means letting go of myself, then it was never real friendship to begin with.
Colin
I take another sip of brandy and check my phone. No new messages. No missed calls.
Up until the very last minute, I kept hoping Ceci would call and ask me to go with them to her parents’ house. I stopped by earlier, just like we agreedover text.
I stay in the living room with Alicia while she shows me a school project she’s working on. Ethan sits at the kitchen island, and I don’t even have to look to know he’s listening to every word we say.
Alicia gets up to grab something from the kitchen, and then I hear the familiar click of heels on the stairs. My head turns before I even realize it.
She’s mesmerizing.
She’s wearing a simple navy-blue dress with long sleeves. On anyone else, it would fade into the background; on her, it is elegant and poised.
When she reaches the last step, she goes straight to the kitchen.
“Can you zip me up, please?” she asks.
My chest tightens. That used to be my place.
“Is that good, Mom?” Alicia asks. “You look so pretty.”
“It’s perfect, sweetie. Thank you. And you look beautiful too,” Ceci says. “As soon as you say goodbye to your dad, we can head to your grandparents’.”
I don’t move. I just stand there, watching her, missing her with an ache so deep it feels unbearable, even with her only a few steps away.
Alicia had promised to send photos and videos from the dinner. It’s almost ten, and my phone is still silent. They must be laughing, eating, caught up in everything I’m no longer part of… too busy to remember me. Even my little princess seems to have forgotten.
There are three knocks at the door of my suite. I frown. I didn’t order room service. I stay where I am, hoping whoever it is will give up. The knocking comes again, harder this time, and I finally set my phone aside and stand.
I open the door in one motion, and come face to face with the last person I wanted to see. “What the hell are you doing here?” My voice comes out clipped, already stretched thin.
“Not going to invite me in?” Maya’s tone is syrupy, smug.
Before I can answer, she slips under my arm and walks inside as if she owns the place. “I don't have the time or the patience for your games, Maya.”
She bites her bottom lip, fingers playing with the belt of her black coat. “It's been almost two weeks, Colin. I’vemissedyou.”
“I thought you were smarter than this. The fact that I reassigned you to another department, stopped replying to your texts, and haven’t reached out should’ve made it clear. Whatever happened between us is over.”
She doesn’t even flinch. Instead, she steps closer, loosens the belt of her coat, and lets it slide to the floor. Underneath, she’s wearing nothing but red and black lace lingerie and a matching garter belt.
I take her in from head to toe, registering every detail of her body.
And nothing happens. Not even a twitch.
