Page 27 of Paint the Town, Dove
“Don’t you look exquisite.”
Abe Turner.
Fuck.
“Always.” Ryden didn’t even give the courtesy of a nod before walking away. “She always does.”
And he was gone, leaving me with the lasting presence ofhimand the new presence of his adversary.
His hand was on my back, a little lower than I would’ve liked. “Shall we mingle, Ms. Blake?”
I sighed, following Ryden’s pace to Mallory, watching them disappear into the V.I.P lounge.
He didn’t look back.
“It’s Emory-Blake,” I whispered. “Mr. Turner.”
Chapter Nine
Ryden
Seventeen Years Ago
One whole year later.
Sometimes, time does fly with broken wings.
“Why do you live there?” Scarlett asked me.
I thought it was a stupid question. “What do you mean why do I live there? It’s my home. My mom lives there.”
“But…” She sat next to me on the play gym, staring at the grass. “So doeshe.”
I knew who she was talking about. Corban.
This whole year, I told her everything. At first, it was because I needed to get it out. Then it turned into reliance. Into companionship.
Maybe that’s why Mom stayed with Corban.
She leaned on him.
Even when he didn’t catch her.
“I can’t just leave,” I said, defeated.
I wanted to.
I didn’t want to.
Corban.
Mom.
Corban.
Mom.
“Sure you can,” she piped up. “I do it all the time.”
