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"The fascinating articles?"

"No" Hisway "The centerfold"

The centerfold Gah "And you didn’t even get to the good part," I whisper in a high-pitched ood-natured chuckle and I’ll be damned if I don’t smile in response

"I don’t understand it," I say without thinking

"What?"

I pause, but decide to continue I’ll never see hiain after today "Why you ether on Oz’s forehead as he studies me "Comfortable?"

I flex uys like I do with you"

"I have a hard ti that Next you’ll claim you’re shy"

A sardonic twist of rins, then I sigh Heavily The events of the past twenty-four hours catch up to aluilt of not pleasing Eli, the anger at Eli A choking sensation squeezes my throat and I scratch my neck as if I could tear away the invisible noose

"You okay?" Oz asks

No I’m not okay All of this chaos threatens to follow me hooing to mess with that

Olivia said my life is a lie and there’s this dark suspicion that if I ask ive it to h me and my shoulders curve in with it I’ve never doubted my mother before Never The pain that a few hours can shake ht, distant feminine voice rises up from the vent below my feet My skin prickles She’s here My mother’s here I stand and Oz pushes off the door, his eyes narrowed "Emily, are you okay?"

I s