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ALISON MET ME AT THE Black Cat Café the next morning. I was grateful it was Saturday and I didn’t have to show up for work. I hadn’t slept. I hadn’t even cried, which made everything that much worse. I wanted to cry, to release all the pain and tension breaking up with Matlock had caused, but I couldn’t do it. My heart was broken.
Alison found us a small table in the corner of the café where we would have privacy. We slid into the chairs and I grabbed a pink packet of sugar just so I could do something with my hands.
“You look like shit,” Alison said after we ordered our drinks. I hadn’t been a big fan of coffee before I was pregnant, but now the very thought of it turned my stomach. So, I’d ordered peppermint tea.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
I couldn’t even be mad at Alison. She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t even look in the mirror as I’d pulled on new clothes for the day. I wasn’t sleepy, but I was exhausted. It was hard for me to explain.
“I take it things between you and Ma—” She cut herself off and glanced around. When her eyes reached mine again, she cleared her throat. “—him... didn’t go well last night?”
Before I could respond, the waitress handed us our drinks and disappeared. Looking around, I saw a decent line at the counter, which was a bit of a surprise. The sweet seasonal scent of cinnamon and pumpkin mixed with cream and coffee made my mouth water. My stomach rumbled. And yet, the thought of eating caused my gut to twist.
I didn’t understand pregnancy at all.
“That’s an understatement,” I said. Without thinking about it, I began to finger the necklace he gave me last night. I didn’t mean to still be wearing it after everything that had happened, but the thought of taking it off was too much to bear. I had Matlock’s child inside of me, but the locket was something tangible, something I could hold onto. Giving it up wasn’t an option just yet.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I brought my cup of tea to my lips. The truth was, I didn’t want to talk about it, but I wasn’t sure who else I could trust at this point. After taking a long gulp, I set the cup back down and told her about my attempt at making a meal, Matlock coming over, then Matlock leaving after breaking my heart into a billion tiny fragments.
“I’m so sorry,” Alison murmured, reaching out to squeeze my free hand. “What are you going to do?”
I sighed. “I don’t know.”
Alison pressed her lips together. It was like she wanted to say something, but she was holding back, debating on what she should do. I didn’t have the strength in me to fight her or push for more. My stomach was turning in knots. I leaned forward, taking a deep inhale of the tea’s aroma in hopes it would settle me. However, part of me was worried I would never be settled again.
“Come to the human realm with me,” she whispered.
My eyes cut back to her. “What?” I wasn’t sure I’d heard her correctly.
“The human realm,” she repeated. “Come with me.”
“Why would I go there?” I asked. “You can’t do magic in the human world.” And magic was my life.
“Technically, you’re not supposed to... but that doesn’t mean we can’t,” Alison corrected gently.
“I...” I looked down at my cup of tea, wishing I knew how to read tea leaves. I should probably start learning how to do a lot of things. “I don’t know. My dad... I wouldn’t want to leave him. He’s worked so hard for me.”
And I’ve ruined myself because of this damn baby.
Tears formed in my eyes and one managed to escape down my cheek. I quickly wiped them away. I would not let myself fall into a hole of self-pity. It wasn’t the baby’s fault this happened.
“Gen,” Alison said in a low voice. “I already have a home over there. I inherited it from my grandmother. She wasn’t a witch, but my grandfather was a warlock. She kept her house and my grandfather left this realm for the human realm, foregoing all magic to be with her. You can live with me. And your father could come to, if he wanted.”
That was a big if. My father prided himself on pulling himself up by his bootstraps, creating his own life. He didn’t take any help, even if it was offered. He was stubbornly independent. I took after him because I was the same way.
However, my circumstances were different now. I could go with Alison and not hesitate because I had a baby to look after. Then again, I didn’t want to leave my father.
I was stuck.
“At least come check it out,” she said. “Get a vibe for it. If you don’t like it, we can think of something else.”
That sounded reasonable. I could visit Alison’s home and determine if it was a place I felt comfortable to live, to raise my child. If so, maybe I could talk to my father to find out if he was willing to come with us. And if not, at least he would know what I was up to and where I was. I would tell him the truth.
“When would we go?” I asked.
Alison grinned. “Right now.”
I stared at her. Right now? I wasn’t so sure about that. At the same time, if I wanted this to work, I needed to start making decisions quickly. My stomach wasn’t going to stay flat forever.
I also wanted to be prepared, which meant if I knew what was going to happen now rather than later, that would lessen the stress.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Let’s do it.”
Alison grinned. I finished my tea and we left the café. My heart was thrumming against my chest, though I wasn’t sure if it was because I was nervous or if I was excited. Probably both.
I followed Alison out of the café and towards the Council chambers. There was a portal there we could use to travel to the human realm, we just had to be careful who saw us use it.
My eyes kept darting over to the Council building. Part of me wanted Matlock to come out and stop me from leaving. To tell me that he missed me and that he wanted to be with me. To ask me to give everything up for him.
I was weak when it came to that man. Pathetic. Even my daydreams were weak and pathetic.
I shook my head. I would not allow myself the time to think about Matlock. Not when there was so much I needed to focus on, including the future of this child growing inside of me.
When we reached the realm entrance, Alison took my hand and we stepped through. There was a stillness, a chill, then we were rushing through again. When we broke through to the human realm, it was difficult for me to catch my balance. Without warning, I turned and threw up on the ground beneath my feet. I’d read about portal travel, of course, but I hadn’t actually experienced it. It probably didn’t help that I was already squeamish.
Alison said nothing, just rubbed my back until I finished. She magicked some toiletries out of thin air and handed them to me. I wiped my mouth with tissues and took a sip of ginger tea. I was getting used to the taste, even though I wasn’t fond of it.
“Ready?” Alison asked. “If you need more time —”
I cut her off by shaking my head. I had no intention of wasting time here. I wanted to gather the information as quickly as I could, so I could make a decision. It wasn’t smart for me to rush things, but at the same time I wanted to be on the path where I knew what I was going to do once I had this child. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was a risk having it.
“Good,” she said. “It’s only a couple of blocks away.”
I practically sagged in relief. Despite the fact that mentally I was ready for just about anything, my stomach was not. Some of it was nerves, some of it was other things. For the most part, the less I moved, the better I felt. Regardless, I needed to see the house, especially if I was going to live there, and more importantly if I was going to raise my child there.
Alison took my hand and we headed through the streets. The crazy part of this realm were the similarities to the magical realm. There weren’t warlocks and witches walking down the street, nor magic crackling in the air. But there were buildings filled with large businesses and small businesses mixed in, such as cafes and exercise studios. I was glad to see there was a park nearby, with screams and laughter emanating from the children who were playing.
“Good afternoon,” a woman said as she and her partner passed us.
I gaped after them, surprised by the kindness. I couldn’t think fast enough to respond.
Alison turned the corner and I followed. We were heading away from businesses and stepping into a residential area now, with houses of all different shapes, sizes, and colors lined down on a strip of land.
“Is this where you’re going to live?” I asked in a whisper.
“My grandparents wanted to be away from the town,” she said, “but not too far away, in case there was an emergency or some sort of craving that couldn’t be quenched with magic.”
We stopped in front of a house near the end of the block. It was aged, with ivy growing on the sides of it, a small brick chimney, and flowers lining the pathway leading to the door.
“This is it,” Alison announced, sweeping her hands in front of her like she was a game show host introducing a prize. “What do you think?”
I closed my eyes and let myself feel the place. It wasn’t so much that I needed it to look nice. Magic could fix a crumbling home. Even if we were in the human realm, there was always a way. The true testament to whether I would like this place was being able to feel safe. The environment where the house was located was very important too. The land and I needed to have a good relationship. I needed to know I was safe here, that my child would be too.
The breeze tickled my skin. The sun’s rays coated my cheeks in warmth. The subtle scent of flowers overtook my senses. The leaves rustled. I could hear kids’ laughter down the street, the squeak of bikes and the thwack of balls being kicked against the garage.
A sense of clear, cool happiness flowed over me. Like water bubbling in a brook, washing away the past and opening the door to my future.
I opened my eyes.
“It’s perfect,” I told Alison, my lips already curving into a smile. “I would love to stay here for as long as you’ll have me.”
She clapped. “Yay!” she exclaimed. “It’s settled.”
Except it wasn’t. Not yet. I still had to talk to my father, and I wasn’t sure how that was going to go.
I ran a hand through my long hair, tugging my fingers through the tangles.
“What is it?” Alison asked, her eyes scanning my face. “There’s something wrong. Your face is all,” she gestured with her fingers around her own face, as though that was going to help me understand what she meant, “you know. Constipated.”
I laughed, despite the trouble that plagued my mind. “It’s just,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t feel comfortable putting you at risk.”
The truth was, I didn’t feel comfortable talking to my father about this, but I couldn’t tell her that. She would tell me to just trust my father. And I knew I should. I couldn’t just leave him without telling him where I was going. I refused to do that. But talking to him about this was going to be difficult. He would be so disappointed in me, I was sure. But I’d have to get over it, of course. Somehow.
I pressed my lips together and pushed those thoughts away. I needed to focus on the here and now for the moment.
I slowly made my way up the steps of the house. Could I imagine my child playing here? Would I ever feel completely comfortable allowing him or her to be outside, alone? I didn’t want to have to hide it away for the rest of its life. That wouldn’t be a life for a healthy child. But I also refused to risk its safety. And I wasn’t sure we would be completely safe here.
Not that the human realm wouldn’t normally be safe for us. A lot of warlocks and witches who were tired of their own realms and wanted to live without the watchful eye of the Council lived here. And I was sure the Council knew it, too. They just didn’t see those retreating magical figures as threats.
My child, on the other hand?
My child was a threat to everything.
“You’re not putting me at risk, Gen,” Alison said suddenly, taking a step towards me.
I gave her a look that hopefully conveyed that I didn’t really believe her. “While I appreciate your kind words,” I said, “we both know that isn’t true, Alison. I can’t let myself be naïve about this any longer. Maybe I was trying to fool myself before...this.” I glanced down, my gaze going to my stomach. “But I can’t do that anymore. Not with so much at stake.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you deserve to figure this out on your own,” Alison pointed out. She took a tentative step towards me. I wasn’t sure what she saw on my face, but she was treating me like I was a timid animal and she was afraid that she was going to scare me. “Gen, I’m here for you. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you or your child and I could have prevented it in some way.”
“I know,” I said. “But I also couldn’t live with myself if I knew I dragged you into this sort of danger. This isn’t your burden to bear. It’s my foolishness, my mistake.” I cradled my stomach. “I don’t think having this child is a mistake, of course. What I mean is, I was a fool. I was careless. I was...selfish.” I shook my head. It was odd. I felt older than I had ever felt before and it had maybe been a few weeks since all of this happened, since my life had completely changed. “My choices are my own. I don’t need anyone else to take responsibility for them.”
“I know that,” Alison said. “Regardless, I’m still here for you. So, you might as well use me.”
I smiled again. “Bloody stubborn,” I muttered.
“Must be from hanging out with you too much then,” she shot back.
I looked back out at the yard. As much as I wanted to believe we could be safe here, I wasn’t sure that was the case. The Council wanted me gone. They knew about Matlock’s feelings for me, or else there was no way he would have broken things off between us. But if I disappeared willingly, would that be enough for them? Or would they come looking for me? And would they try to get to Alison or my father in order to get to me?
“So?” Alison asked, turning her head to look at me. “What do you think?”
I wanted to tell her that this place was beyond words. I didn’t care that it was old. I didn’t care that vines crawled up and down the house. It was lovely, and I could see myself here with my child.
But I didn’t know if this location would keep us safe the way I needed it to.
“I think it’s brilliant,” I forced myself to say, beaming at Alison. I hoped she didn’t notice the forced smile on my face. I hoped she didn’t notice how tense I had become.
“Perfect,” she said. “Do you want to grab some ice cream or something?”
“Shouldn’t we be heading back?” I asked, frowning. I wasn’t sure how things worked between the human realm and the magic realm, but I was certain there was a greater chance of us getting caught if we hung out here rather than returning. Even if I wanted to stay, which I did.
“I doubt anyone is going to notice that we’re gone,” Alison said. “Charity’s family is having some party tonight. It’s going to be huge, and everyone will be there.”
My eyebrows lifted. There was a gala going on tonight?
“If that’s the case,” I said slowly, my lips curving up. “How can I say no? Ice cream it is.”
Chapter 10
The human realm had the best ice cream I’d ever tasted. Alison and I took our time walking down the street, window shopping and enjoying ourselves. There was something especially freeing about not having to worry about being caught by someone on the Council or one of their guards. My face wasn’t recognizable here. No one knew about my affair with the most important man in the magic realm. I could relax.
Here, I was a completely normal person hanging out with my best friend. I could pretend my pregnancy wasn’t an accident, but something my partner and I wanted all along. I could pretend I was part of a little family.
No one paid us any mind, either. We could walk up and down the streets without anyone looking twice at us. I could probably eat as much ice cream as I wanted and not be judged for it – something I might advantage of once I was showing more.
“Can you imagine doing this every day, Gen?” Alison asked as the night wore on. There was still a small breeze that tickled the back of my neck and I couldn’t suppress a shudder as it slid down my spine. “Just you and me and the little one.”
I smiled at the mention of my baby, placing a hand on the small curve of my stomach.
I could imagine it.
But I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
I kept vacillating back and forth, telling myself to relax but also reminding myself that we would never be truly safe. Even if no one knew about me, about the baby, there was always that chance the truth would come out in some form or another. We would always be looking over our shoulders. We would always be on the run, even if we were staying with Alison.
And Alison? She would always be at risk simply because of what she was doing for me. I couldn’t have that on my conscience. Even if Alison insisted on helping, that didn’t mean I had to take her up on her offer.
This had been eating away at me for the entire length of our stay here, after we’d reached her grandmother’s place for the first time. I let loose a breath.
“You’re still upset,” Alison said after a moment.
I sighed. Alison could read me better than anyone.
“I just don’t know if I’m making the right decision,” I said, running my fingers through my hair with my free hand. My other hand was still holding onto my ice cream cone, careful not to let melted sweet roll down and get my fingers sticky. “Don’t misunderstand me, I appreciate what you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable putting you at risk – even if you are willing.”
Alison looked like she was going to argue. I almost thought it would be a repeat of everything we had already discussed, and I wasn’t in the mood to fight with her again. I kept going back and forth and I hated that I couldn’t make a damn decision to save my life.
“I might know someone who can help,” she said in a low voice. “I can reach out to him if you want.”
I wanted to argue. I wanted to ask how letting someone else in on my secret could help the situation. That wasn’t going to prevent Alison from being at risk. It was only going to drag someone else into this mess, and that was the last thing I wanted.
“Sure,” I said instead. Maybe it would appease Alison, and I could just reject the offer later.
“I can’t talk about it just yet,” she continued. “I made a promise to him. But I figure this is a special circumstance.”
I nodded, taking another lick of my ice cream.
“Have you thought about telling Matlock?” Alison’s voice caused my shoulders to jump up to my ears, and I nearly dropped the rest of my ice cream all over the sidewalk. If that had happened, I would have killed her.
“What?” I asked before placing my mouth on the cold treat, trying to even it out so it wouldn’t spill over.
“Have you considered telling Matlock?” Alison asked. “I’m not saying it’s a good idea. I just wanted to know if you had.”
I wanted to tell her that I tried.
Actually, that was a lie.
When I found out, I was going to tell him. And then he broke up with me. He threw everything we had away. He was able to move on so easily while I broke every single night on my bathroom floor, wearing one of his shirts that still smelled like him.
I hated him.
But I still loved him.
And I hated that.
“I’ve considered it,” I finally said. I couldn’t meet her gaze. “I decided it’s a bad idea.”
“Good.” Alison settled beside me. “I thought maybe...” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to tell you but, that party tonight... It’s actually... well, it’s an engagement party. I just wanted you to know.”
I furrowed my brow. “Wait,” I said. “You showed me your grandmother’s house as a way to keep me away from Matlock? You thought I’d go to him?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure,” she said.
I wasn’t sure whether I was angry or disappointed.
The truth of the matter was, I wasn’t sure if I should tell Matlock about my child or not. I thought that after he broke up with me, not saying anything was the right decision. But being reminded that he was off having an engagement party as though nothing was wrong boiled my blood. Why was I the one who had to be concerned about my life, my child’s life, and he could go on pretending everything was okay?
Because everything was not okay.
And he needed to know that.
Chapter 11
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be at this fancy home in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the realm. I was sure I’d get caught, even though I magicked myself as a waitress working at this event.
I just wanted to see Matlock. I wanted to see the truth on his face about everything. I didn’t think I could do this on my own, and yet, I knew I had to. But maybe if Matlock knew...
Except, he was the one who’d left me. He was the one who broke up with me. Being the one left behind was frustrating.
But he didn’t know. He didn’t know about the child.
I placed a hand on my stomach, leaning against the sturdy oak tree as I looked at the large house. Just feeling my stomach, reminding myself that a baby was inside of me, depending on me, reassured me more than I expected. I thought for sure I’d be running away from the responsibility. I had ever since my mother died because I knew deep down, nothing could be counted on. But knowing I was going to be a mother changed all that. It gave me confidence. More than that, it urged me to do what was right, even if what was right had nothing to do with what I wanted.
Maybe if I could talk to Matlock, maybe if I could tell him about our child, he would guarantee its safety. He would make sure no harm came to it.
This wasn’t a ploy to get him back. I didn’t think I even wanted him back, not after what he said to me. Not after what he did.
Although, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t blame him. He was as much a prisoner of the Council and their villainous ways as I was. I didn’t realize that until right now, and maybe that was me, being too caught up in my own selfish wants to realize it, but I understood that now. Matlock had no control over his position. He also couldn’t change the fact he would participate in an arranged marriage. The Council decided everything for him. He was just a face, a puppet.
But what if he came with me? What if he chose to leave? Maybe if he knew about our child, maybe then he would finally stand up to them. Or, if he couldn’t stand up to them, maybe he could run away.
I knew it was a great risk. I doubted the Council would let Matlock go so easily. His family line had inherited the position of High Warlock for centuries. If Matlock just walked away, I didn’t know what that would do to everyone.
But I had to try.
It was easy to spot him. There was a crowd gathered around him, their faces intent on listening to one of his stories. There was a beauty about him I didn’t think other people appreciated. When he weaved a tale, his entire face was animated, his eyes intense, and he gestured with his hands in a way that might cause some people to question his sanity. However, it was all part of his charm. It was one of the many reasons I was in love with him.
My heart clenched. I pushed further against the tree. The white bark seemed to press back, and while it was smooth, it also wasn’t exactly comfortable.
Matlock stood on the grand deck of his fiancée’s family home that overlooked the large backyard. A couple of guests were whispering under the moonlight, but for the most part, the majority of people in attendance were tucked inside where it was warm. I pulled down the hemline of the ridiculous waitress uniform I wore. My stomach was already growing, which meant the dress was tighter than I originally expected it to be. I wasn’t sure if it was obvious of the state I was in – if people could tell I was with child – but what I wore definitely wasn’t helping that one way or the other.
I closed my eyes and tilted my face up. Again, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I was doing here.
This was a mistake. It had to be. I shouldn’t be here. For one, telling Matlock about our child wasn’t going to change things for anyone. If anything, it was going to make things worse for him because now he knew he had a child out in the world, and that child posed a threat to everything.
I didn’t know why I thought this was a good decision. I pressed my hands to my stomach, tears burning my eyes. Why did it feel as though everything I did – every good intention I had – amounted to more trouble? I knew I needed to learn a lesson, and I had. My relationship with Matlock had been reckless and selfish, and now there was a child in the mix. I just wanted to do right by my child. Didn’t the father deserve to know?
Perhaps.
But should he?
I kept wavering back and forth.
I knew Matlock’s feelings about the Council. I knew he didn’t agree with them. I knew he hated that he had to give me up because of their traditions.
But he still hadn’t done anything about it.
Would telling Matlock about my child really change anything in the grand scheme of things?
No.
No, it won’t.
You’re using this as an excuse to see him again.
You know you shouldn’t be here.
I needed to leave. I had to get away before I got caught.
“What are you doing here?” The ultra-feminine if slightly nasally voice filled my ears and I froze. This had to be a dream. There was no way that Charity, of all people, managed to find me.
“I...” I whipped around, only to find that yes, Charity had found me. She was all jagged lines and harsh scowls, her lips curled into a sneer, eyes narrowed into tiny little slits as she glared at me. I would have been amused – and proud – that my mere presence could rile her up in such a way, but I could not be discovered here.
Not by Matlock.
Not by anyone else.
And especially not by Charity.
“Are you seriously working our engagement party?” She asked, her snide voice ringing in my ears. Then her gaze narrowed. “Or... did... Did Matlock invite you?” Charity asked, and there was a hitch to her voice, almost as though she was worried he had.
I thought about this for a minute. I could tell her Matlock invited me. I could tell her that he wanted me to be by his side.
But it would be a lie.
Even though it would hurt her – and I wanted nothing more than to hurt her, seeing as how she had everything I had ever wanted – I didn’t think it would make a difference. All the pettiness I yearned to participate in, all the points I wanted to make, the pain I wanted to inflict, all melted away.
Charity was a bitch, but she didn’t ask for this just as I hadn’t.
In a way, I felt sorry for her. Matlock wouldn’t love her. Not like he loved me. Even watching them back when I was hungry for pain, looking for any evidence of why I was superior to her, I could clearly see there was no passion between them. And that was sad. No one should be in a passionless marriage for the rest of her life, even if she was the biggest bitch on the planet.
“Of course not,” I said.
Suddenly, Charity’s lips twitched wide, smirking like a snake.
That couldn’t be good.
I narrowed my eyes, my body tensing. I wanted to look away. I wanted to see if there was anyone else around that might have also noticed me and was closing in. Why else would she look so smug?
“That’s right,” Charity said, tilting her head forward so some of her red hair fell over her shoulder. I considered, for a moment, choking her with it, but then I really would be in trouble and I wouldn’t be able to protect my child or my father, no matter how powerful I was. “Matlock dropped you like a bad habit. And you were. I’m glad he got it out of his system.”
“Excuse me?” I’d asked. I meant to keep my voice down, but the volume increased more than I would have liked.
This time, I did look around, wanting to make sure no one could overhear or see us. Charity kept her eyes firmly on me. She clearly didn’t care one way or the other. She probably wanted me to get caught. If I were caught, then that meant I was no longer a threat to Matlock’s affections.
“You heard me,” she said. “Now that he’ slummed around with an unimportant peasant and sewed his wild oats as the humans say, he can focus on what’s important – building a family with his wife.”
“Remind me if I’m mistaken,” I said, “and I could very well be, but you aren’t his wife yet, are you? He might have been slumming it with me, as you’ve stated, but he’s enjoyed me in ways you’ll never get to enjoy him.” I clicked my tongue against the back of my teeth. “How sad for you.” I cocked my head to the side. “You see, Chastity –”
“It’s Charity,” she corrected through a growl.
“Whatever.” I didn’t care. “There are things he’s done with me that he will never do with you.”
“Sex is not the most important thing in a relationship,” she said, though I could tell I was starting to get to her.
Good.
“Sex? You think I’m talking about sex?” I shook my head, hoping it came across as condescending, because it was. “I’m not. I’m talking about love. You think he loves you? He doesn’t. He loves me. The only reason he’s with you is because he has to be.” I shook my head. “You know what, Chastity? I feel sorry for you. How does it feel to know that you’ll never be truly loved by him? You’ll always be the girl he was forced to be with.”
I knew I wasn’t being fair. If anything, she was in the same situation he was in. That wasn’t her fault. The fact that she was gloating about it pissed me off, though. The fact that she didn’t seem perturbed in the slightest. That she wanted Matlock, even if it was in this way.
Maybe she doesn’t even want him. Maybe she wants the power, the title. Maybe he’s nothing to her.
“I think it’s time you go before you do something stupid and cause a scene,” Charity said, her voice deadly and low. “Who knows, maybe they’ll see you as a threat and hurt you. I’d like to see that.”
My hand dropped and I almost touched my stomach.
Almost.
I realized that what I was doing was stupid. I was putting myself, and more importantly my child, at risk, all because Alison wanted to keep me from here. I was behaving like a child.
“I’ll leave,” I said through gritted teeth. My pride was already wounded, but it would seem that didn’t matter. There were still parts of me too stubborn to care.
“Are you sure? We were just getting to know each other?”
I wanted to punch the wicked smile off her pretty face.
Instead, I stepped back and left. I didn’t turn back. I knew Charity wasn’t going to do anything to me.
I managed to make it to the next block before the tears started to come. I quickly wiped them away, refusing to shed a tear for Matlock. Not again.
“Genevieve?” a harsh voice called out.
I straightened. I had wanted to avoid him after everything. I closed my eyes, tried to press against the wall.
But it was no use.
He’d caught me.