Chapter 18: Tell Me to Stop

Ansley's POV

Darek came up the stairs at eleven that night with his coat unbuttoned and snow on his shoulders.

My parents were asleep in the next room, so I met him in the hall and pulled the door shut behind me.

"You should have called from the airport," I said.

"I did call from the airport."

"You called from the gate. You said you needed to see me. That's not the same thing."

He almost smiled.

We went up one flight to the landing outside the roof door.

It had a radiator and a window over the street.

"I was in Tampa today," he said.

I leaned against the radiator.

"You went to see Lila."

"I did. She gave up her edit rights, so nobody can change a result anymore. And she's posting on Friday."

"The bridesmaid showed me the draft."

"She has screenshots of you."

"I know." My voice came out thin. "I did say it. I said, Take him, he's all yours."

"When?"

"On my couch, with a glass of wine, while he was on his phone."

"You said it to a woman who was lying to you."

"I said it to my friend."

"Then she's the one who should be ashamed of it."

"Everyone will read it as me not caring."

"Everyone who matters will read it as you trusting someone," Darek said. "That's different."

I looked at the street.

The snow fell slowly past the window.

"You flew to Florida for me," I said, "and you didn't tell me."

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