have.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because asking a stranger to pretend to sleep on my shoulder was already strange enough.”
I smiled.
“That’s true.”
He moved toward the door.
“I should let you rest.”
“Adrian?”
He turned.
“Thank you.”
“You booked the hotel.”
“For not making me feel ridiculous.”
His expression softened.
“You’re not ridiculous, Elena.”
The certainty in his voice unsettled me in ways I wasn’t prepared to examine.
He opened the door.
Then paused.
“Don’t answer Ethan tonight unless you want to.”
“I won’t.”
“And call your attorney tomorrow.”
“I will.”
He nodded.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
The door closed.
I locked it.
Then locked the security latch.
Then checked both twice.
Old habits.
I changed Lily into pajamas without waking her.
I washed my face.
I stood beneath the shower until the water turned lukewarm.
Then, wearing an oversized T-shirt, I climbed into bed and stared at the
