LOGINASHER Shit. Shit. And another shit. I knew this day would come. I just didn't expect it so soon. I could see the determination in Ariella's eyes when she said it. She was ready and she really wanted to do this. Shit. “I am going to see her,” she told me firmly. “I want to go later in the even
ARIELLA I kept watching Leon and Asher's figure even when they had disappeared completely when Sia asked, “So you're not a morning person, are you?” I turned toward her. “I am. But not if I have to exercise first thing.” “Not at all?” “Absolutely not.” She laughed. “And Asher's trying to g
ARIELLA "No," I said shaking my head. "I am not doing it anymore." "You barely started," Asher said. "I'm finished." "You ran for three minutes." "It felt like two years." Leon laughed so hard he nearly fell over. "Mom." "No." "Mom." "No. No, no." "You look and sound exactly like Leon wh
ASHER "I think... yeah. I mean, I guess someone who can help me deal with this. Give me ways to deal with this." Ariella explained herself. I tightened my hold on her hands. "I'm here." She looked at me. "Nobody deserves your thoughts. Nobody deserves your truth. Nobody deserves you more than
ASHER Ariella had the right connections to get whatever drugs she could pump into herself if she wanted to. She had the means to do it, and I wasn’t going to let her. “It’s gotta stop,” I told her point-blank without sugar coating it. She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know about your little alcoh
ASHER I stayed patient... or at least I tried. Finding out about the alcohol was the moment that really terrified me. Because Ariella wasn’t like that, she wasn’t reckless and she barely drank unless it was socially, and even then she never lost control of herself. But grief changes people. Loss
After dinner, things settled into a quiet lull. It was clear Rosie and Leon were getting restless, both of them squirming and yawning. Rosie kept tugging on Alan’s ankle until he finally chuckled and said, “I would’ve loved to spend a few more minutes getting to know you, Ariana, but it looks like
Luca drives. And drives. And drives. At some point, I must have dozed off. When I blink back to consciousness, we’re parked in front of a building, not nearly as grand as the one I’d just left behind when Asher found me. It’s not terrible, but it’s older, and worn down. The kind of place where no o
ASHER I ground my teeth. “That was romantic, by the way,” he added with a smirk. “Who takes their mistress on a vacation like that? The pictures… you looked like a couple in love. Engaged. Married, even... Beautiful.” He laughed. I didn’t. “I cried a little,” he said, with that damn grin. “Not f
Still, the silence between us lingered long enough for me to break it. “I’ve seen you around… You live next door, right?” I asked “Yup. That modern grey house that looks like it’s judging the rest of the street.” I chuckled. “It’s beautiful. Do they pay teachers that well here?” Dana burst out l







