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How warm his skin was when our forearms connected. How lost he got in the music he was playing.

His voice sounded so soft. So warm and connected. Like he wanted to have the conversation as much as I did. And God, the mint on his breath had been so strong it made my eyes water behind my glasses. I wonder if he’d been chasing away the taste of his favorite tequila. Or had it been something else? I wasn’t bold enough to ruin the mood by asking …

Cramps stab at my lower back, announcing my period’s upcoming arrival.

I guess that explains last night; my dreams are always worse around this time of the month.

As I comb my hair in the bathroom mirror, I rehearse the favor I plan to ask Victor for once Adonis leaves.

He could tell me no, but at least I’ll know I tried.

Back at my bedside, I grab my glasses off the nightstand and put them on, pausing for a beat to get used to the feel of them on my face.

Dr. Thomas said I should be adjusted to them in two to three weeks and I’m clinging to that promise because it means I might go more than a day without a headache.

A dull one thrums at my temples now, but I don’t know if it’s hormones, BVD or some secret third thing.

“I guess I’ll find out at the neurologist next week,” I murmur, picking up my phone.

Me: Has anyone else shown up at the apartment?

Indi: I was just about to text you!

Me: What’s wrong? Did something happen?

Indi: Yes and no

Me: Indigo, stop edging me and tell me!

Indi: We really gotta work on your use of that word. You starting to make me regret teaching you what it is

My face flushesat her response while an ill-timed laugh bubbles in my chest.

Me: Tell me, please

Indi: I went to the leasing office to pay our rent and sour patch Sam told me you already paid up the rest of our lease.

Laughter shakesmy shoulders at her mention of Sam. The leasing manager with the permanent scowl on his face has been on Indigo’s shit list since we moved in.

Indi: Did you secretly hit the lotto or something? How did you do that if you’re not going to work? Did your new boyfriend pay it? If so, I take back everything I said about that man

“What is she talking about?”Squinting at her words, I scroll up to her previous text, shaking my head when I realize I stopped reading after I saw Sam’s name.

Damn.

Someone paid our rent for the rest of the year? It wasn’t my unemployed ass. I’mstillsalty I paid rent a day before I got snatched.

Another pulse from my phone pulls my eyes back down before I can get lost in rumination.

Nothing about the receipt she attached stands out at first until I zoom in on the total. Nobody else in my life has that kind of money lying around. Nobody except the man who took me.

“Fucking Adonis.”

And there it is. The pin I needed to burst my bubble and bring my head back to planet earth after floating in the clouds. Outside of this house, life moves on while I miss every second of it. A tidal wave of realizations hit me all at once. Adonis is still who he is, and he paid for the rest of theyear.

Whydid he pay for the rest of the year? And why hadn’t he said anything about it?

Soothing myself, I rub the column of my neck again and again. Until it doesn’t feel like I’m choking on my own breaths.