Page 134 of Suite 7

The apology is precise, contained, entirely Kane. Not I’m so sorry but the specific thing he got wrong, named directly. I stand in the cold and read it twice.

Then I walk around to the main entrance. Through the glass doors.

Sloane finds me immediately.

“There you are!” The relief on her face is genuine. “Where have you been?”

“Outside.” At least this part is true. “Got overheated.”

“You’ve been acting strange all night. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Can we go soon?”

She hesitates. “Let me say goodbye to Kane. He helped me look for you.”

He kept her occupied while I hid and panicked.

I follow her with my eyes until she finds him. The guilt settles heavy in my sternum.

She trusts me. Loves me. Was genuinely worried.

And I’m destroying that with every breath.

In the car, Sloane talks about the gala. About how well it went. About Lisa.

“Lisa seemed interested! I totally saw Kane smile at her during the architecture discussion.”

Sloane drops me at my loft with a cheerful hug. “That was fun! Love you, weirdo.”

“Love you too.”

I watch her taillights until they disappear. Then I climb the stairs, close the door, and sink onto my couch in the dark, still wearing the black dress.

My phone buzzes.

Gerald: Thank you.

Me: For what?

Gerald: For trusting me tonight. Even when it was hard. Even when it was risky.

Me: You wouldn’t have let me fail.

Gerald: No. I wouldn’t.

I set my phone aside and close my eyes.

We need to tell Sloane the truth, soon. I know that the way you know things in your body before your mind has finished the sentence — not as a warning anymore. As a fact.

24 Kane

Hannigan’s is dark wood and leather booths, the comfortable hum of professionals unwinding after work. Classic rock plays low. I arrive at seven-twenty and settle into our corner booth, the one with good sight lines to the door.

The Macallan 18 arrives before Marcel does.

I check my phone twice before he slides into the booth at seven-thirty.

“Maker’s Mark, neat,” he tells the server without looking at the menu. He’s never ordered anything else.