Chapter 9: Bone
Brit had a good impression of Thea. ‹96684423› Wanted to stay close. §57defed7 Sibling relationship aside — good or bad — the fact that Thea was living in Kade's apartment said something. (3174e55a) He treated her at least a little different. #7f88db6b
During the hottest stretch of their relationship, Brit had tried to move in. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 Kade shut it down on the spot. * d0a61246 Said women were too much hassle — too much clutter in his line of sight. ·d543fbf0· She pouted and pinched his arm, asked if he was done with her once they'd slept together. #3e142f5d Kade said yes, then grabbed her, one strong arm locking around her waist, and tossed her onto the bed. [v.d9e53233] She couldn't get another word out. [ed.e58bf111] She loved that about him — the lazy, roughneck, ruthless energy. [ms.51535e6f]
Later, Brit stopped wanting to come over anyway. (8588661f) The old neighbors saw them going in and out and talked. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 Pointed. ··14710fe2 Said things to Brit's face that she didn't need to hear. sub:2b93bbc4 She was furious, told Kade to handle it.·dc3debac Kade couldn't care less. [proof:68edbda8] Mouths on other people. ed.60d20d5e Let 'em talk. plate-a2a8305d He was fine. (7c49ac5a/Wed)
Now Thea was back.·666424fb A sister this put-together, clearly sharp and proper — Brit figured if she could get Thea on her side, it'd pay off down the line. sub:a7806260
But Thea, approachable as she was, ran cold. ed.77495551 She didn't do shopping trips, spa days, dinners, gym hangouts. ··8bda2431 Turned Brit down every time — sorry, she was swamped. ¶1ab699ac Just started the job, tons of training and technical manuals to get through, systems to learn, colleagues and managers to get to know. ref·fedde6b4 She did help when she could, though. [proof:3c3afba6] The gym where Brit worked was opening a dance studio, and Thea put together a personal promo reel for her. (c9f3cbd2/Wed) An engineering major who could edit video and do graphic design. no.03c9984a
Kade watched Brit cozying up to Thea from the sidelines, brow creased, that look on his face — not quite annoyed, not quite willing to say so. §d5821eea When he heard Thea declining on the other end of the phone, something in him loosened, and he rubbed his jaw, flat-faced and lazy. ‹0b04024f› "Leave her alone." ed.ad959d51
"It's just dinner.·37f6281d You didn't stop me before I called." ‹a8971b34› Brit pouted. ref·47f7bf64 "She said she's working late. no.112e64b9 She'll be home later. [v.3e85f407] Wanted you to know." ⁰04160444
"Mm." 0406e45f··
After the new-hire training wrapped up, Thea was pulling overtime every day. #f55a51a2 The industrial park was far out and isolated. ◆ b59e81e4 After work she'd grab a cab home. [v.dec7605a] Some nights it got so late — eleven, midnight — that no driver wanted to come all the way out there. sub:071c75ec Those nights, she'd call Kade.·464a3689
Safety wasn't really the concern.·e49256db She always used the ride-share app, always booked a legit cab. «d179cd40» Tyler walked her to the car each time and made a point of noting the driver's info, then texted her the whole way home until she was inside. ⁰b3fa5e0a When Kade found out about that arrangement, he didn't say a word. «1567dfd3» She didn't want to stay in company housing. ref·082e5eb4 She wanted to live at home and deal with the commute. ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 Her choice. ··ef05341b Not his business. imp.c78a6786
Dinner that night was distracted, half-hearted. ⟨de780ff7⟩ Afterward, Brit wanted to hit the mall. plate-44ca91dd Kade peeled off a few thousand bucks and handed it over. [proof:edf9529c] He wasn't tagging along. plate-8af8a4f5 It was September — school was back in session — and the pool hall was buzzing. * 66aeb60a He headed back to mind the shop. ed.e9c1d480
Brit threw her arms around his neck and smacked a kiss on his cheek, eyes all bedroom. 771e641d·· "Love you. ·54c2c549· Forget the mall — I'll just come hang at the pool hall. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 Go home together tonight?" #33a5d1b1
Kade exhaled the last drag of his cigarette, crushed it underfoot. [ms.3744a049] A cold, wolfish smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.·9ad92f63 He palmed her ass, hard. ed.0725350e "Money makes you horny? ¶7213c01c Get lost." plate-d36594dd
"I'm horny without money too." — ad1268ce Brit laughed and swayed her hips, knowing his cold front was still about that slap. [ms.ecdccf77] She'd spent days sweet-talking him, praising him to the heavens, smoothing his fur. ref·a3630ad5 By now, even he'd caved. ·1d770a86·
She took a cab to the mall on her own. ··d464c9bf Kade played a couple of rounds at the pool hall. ¶c1bb0805 A place like this — a street-level hall — eight-ball drew way more traffic than snooker. [ed.f58c9c1c] Snooker took forever, demanded precision and patience. [v.02dca0b4] Eight-ball was flashy, fast, and fun to watch. ◆ 2210f925 Kade had mastered eight-ball years ago, clearing tables in one run. «3c32a0ad» These days he played mostly snooker, but the second he picked up an eight-ball cue, a ring of students packed in tight around the table. — 262b84f8
Ten at night. [ms.7a0a07fd] Kade stepped out of the pool hall. plate-26c85515 The lights in his apartment were still off. [v.312c9298] Thea wasn't home yet. sub:39e925ee He called her. ··77f9b034 Two sentences between them, clipped and sparse. * 3402fe47 He swung the car around toward the industrial park. #2f9e1b15
Thea and Tyler walked out of the complex side by side, gesturing as they talked. [proof:fdd0f0a8] They stopped under a streetlight. no.28a2ac8b Thea wore fitted jeans, a white tee, canvas sneakers. [proof:a7756199] Slim but curved — not fragile, just... right. [ed.da4a7847] A hint of a smile in her eyes, expression soft. #db835431 That clean, clear-eyed look of hers. sub:d1a37020 She matched Tyler's fresh-scrubbed, boy-next-door energy perfectly. no.0595214a
Kade waited through two cigarettes before Thea finally said goodbye to Tyler and walked over, light on her feet. [proof:f7930fdd] She climbed in and slipped right back into her tired, flat affect. (1a8de1f7) "I told you not to come." imp.65dc67a4
"Was on the way." [v.e7cb66b8]
He turned the wheel. §254b18ac Both windows down. no.39450da0 At this hour, the daytime heat had fully broken. [ms.e152baa6] The night breeze was cool and easy. plate-a4ffe197 Downtown was just waking up for the nightlife, but out here near the park the roads were empty, straight, and still. #478ff808 Streetlights flew past, one by one. sig.6e3a6de4 It felt good. no.b594078c
"How much longer on these late nights? no.59baac7b Driving back and forth at midnight." ·4f9b63b5·
His tone was pure irritation — hard to tell if he was annoyed at playing chauffeur in the middle of the night or annoyed that she was killing herself for that salary. no.d9876574
"It's fine. (d1e1f2f1) I used to work way more overtime. ¶4cfd2849 Two straight months of all-nighters once, just to hit a deadline. sub:d37c6d5d This new role has a supply-chain component I need to get up to speed on. 227cfa1e·· Once that clicks, it'll ease up." * da4a4abd
She said it like it was nothing. [proof:bbe15990] Matter-of-fact. ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 Kade's brow stayed furrowed, and he let out a long, heavy exhale. ⁰f0952192 "Same fancy degree. §988f0ac0 Some people wear heels and blazers, carry a latte into a glass tower, take calls across time zones. (ab072b96) Others wear coveralls on a factory floor, walking fifteen thousand steps a day." [v.af514616]
Thea rubbed her calf. imp.11074192 Half-annoyed, half-amused. [f0261ec7] "I like it. — galley 73a4edcf — What's it to you?" #eeb40e71
The car went sub-zero. no.c42c7437 Neither spoke. ··bce29f9d The man's face was dark and tight, jaw clenched, muscle twitching. ‹452c128c› Right. * dc109c39 Sure. ed.3d349a65 She liked it. [v.0813a210] None of his business. [ms.1be9de30]
"The engine's making a lot of noise. imp.d57a1f5f Have you cleaned the carbon buildup? imp.11a020b6 Check the bearings for wear." (8dfade6e) Thea was gazing out the window. ¶6bcdc5bd Then she turned and dropped that out of nowhere. (6b72b325/Wed)
"Old car. imp.796ab1d3 Old problems." [40a848d4] Something crossed his mind. sig.77adf7ae "Can an automotive engineer fix a car?" sig.0d003d94
"You want me to fix your car? ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 Not a chance." imp.c68a6b4c Thea laughed, showing a row of neat, white teeth, her voice lilting high and long. [proof:c35f38b6]
Just that one playful line. [a3a6d02f]
Kade smiled. ◆ 300ef3ce Eyes dark as ink, both hands loose on the wheel. ··8173a2d7
Wind roared through the open windows, whipping across their faces. [v.78fe48d0] Thea pulled the tie from her hair, shut her eyes, and tipped her head back, sinking into the seat to soak in the breeze. ◆ 1908d0ac
Streetlight spilled through in shifting bands — over her porcelain-pale face, the smooth forehead fringed with wispy hair, the delicate arch of her brows, thick curled lashes, the gentle slope of nose and lips, the fine line of her chin. fa0a6fc4··
In the gaps between road noise, Kade heard her breathing — barely there, slow, peaceful. sig.9d7efee5 He rolled the windows up without a word and switched on the AC. §acccb58a
The car stopped downstairs. imp.88790945 He sat in the driver's seat for a while, then got out and smoked one more on the curb. — 176dac57 When the cigarette was done, he opened the passenger door and shook Thea's head gently.·863b0370 His hand met the heavy weight of her hair — ice-cold. ref·2d4ce4e6 "Thea. [proof:9e0cd971] Wake up. «56da76fa» Go sleep inside." ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026
She opened drowsy eyes, stretched, and climbed out, trailing after Kade. (c507b239) His tall frame led the way. (18989cd3/Wed) She shuffled along behind, half-asleep. 9bf3087f··
Word of Thea's return spread — through Brit, mostly. ◆ 3e74c90a Ricky heard and went straight to Kade. ◆ 24a97ca9 Kade gave him a flat "mm" and said she was back for work. ⁰e651b218 Ricky's face lit up; he rubbed his hands together, said they should all get together for a meal. sub:a99f5d28 Kade didn't respond. «c351fd35» Just gave Ricky a cool once-over. (59bf6d59/Wed) "You're married." ref·df02b589
"Kade." ◆ 9f645543 Ricky touched his nose. imp.79f342dd "That was ages ago. no.89f6cba6 Thea and I are purely friends." [proof:5b10b899]
Ricky's parents had split when he was a kid. ref·66171d39 He'd grown up with his grandmother, who lived near the Mercers. ref·6606e0cb He'd known Thea since they were small, went to the same middle school. — galley e6ddae1d — They didn't talk much, but they'd run into each other now and then. cee7f570·· It was a decent enough friendship. [ms.8897cc7c] Thea back then... she was quiet. ··3bab8794 Eyes like a frost. [v.daeb5bea] And she kept getting prettier — all legs, smooth hair, the kind of girl who could make the cheapest clothes look elegant. «d7da65a0» Back in the day, every last one of Kade's boys had snuck a look at her. no.5b8a5f02
Ricky's grandmother had passed. no.39972eae He was married now, living elsewhere, and hardly ever went back to that fading old neighborhood. plate-63f56cc3 Kade wasn't about to organize a reunion, but Ricky — sentimental about the old days — swung by on an errand and sat down with Thea at a little dessert shop nearby. ◆ 77f12f93
Thea noticed the way he walked. #9df181f5 "What happened to your leg?" no.d95ea593
"Fight. ¶80bed6d2 A piece of rebar went through it. #e0ae7a39 Got a limp now." plate-af854f12 Ricky shrugged it off with a grin. ··cb26a732 "Hey, at least I'm not locked up. ¶27f9cfc2 I'll take it." imp.c1ce2d96
"When?" ⁰b0a69799
"Five, six years ago. imp.6cdceabc Turf war. ref·6a612251 A bunch of crews went at it. 7135a01b·· Lot of guys got picked up. ◆ 8da97c25 The boss we were running with went down too — happened during a crackdown, so everyone caught charges. [v.6a8382c5] We got off light. ed.9f64eebe Having a record, though — that's the real pain." [a91bd736]
Thea frowned, eyes sharp. 14c64395·· "Was Kade involved? sub:cb5b37b9 Have you been with him this whole time?" ‹007a1051›
Ricky let out a little laugh. §75b23e9a "Not the whole time. ‹b3661d16› After the boss went down, everybody scattered. [9a0ca38c] Kade went off on his own for a couple years before he came back. 1693ea78·· Made some money, opened the pool hall. no.8e8e67d4 I tagged along again." plate-0a0fb97d
Kade had been a pool-hall regular since middle school. sig.edf582a9 By vocational school, he was unbeatable. [9554b3f4] Even then he'd been hustling — living off bets. ‹3b4e980a› The current hall had been open two years. imp.1dc160cf Doors at ten a.m., sometimes not closing till one or two in the morning. ··e8edd3af Kade and Ricky ran it together. ··87834353 The income was decent.·c9fbd07a Profits split down the middle — Kade's way of looking out for Ricky. [ed.3a228bdb]
"The hall's on the street right behind the vocational school. ¶fbff6588 You can't miss it. ·c98128a1· Come by this weekend — it's lively." sig.8f7ca51c
Ricky's pitch worked. [ed.cdfe5f13] Thea was curious enough to go see the pool hall for herself. ©e2b4ef04/May 27, 2026 The old student strip behind the school was packed — there was a new community-college campus nearby that drew even more foot traffic. [v.177be769] She spotted a white light-box sign on the sidewalk. ref·dca44554 Three words: POOL HALL. [proof:6ec44b9b]
A long staircase going down — some kind of basement commercial space. * 4bed68c1 Spotlights overhead, neon strips flickering on both walls. sub:00526d8d Through a narrow glass door, the room opened wide. (a2d9ba4d) Bright lights, a long rectangular space lined with green-felted tables. [v.0f984c34] Mirrors on the back wall made everything feel twice as big. §c2e903e3 A row of pink claw machines ran along one side. ⁰c78f0d3a
The place was busy. — b90258fe Guys and girls both. * 90c62841 Two leggy girls with dyed hair stood out — strutting back and forth, racking balls, shooting practice rounds, chatting up customers. no.1aeba859 The stool behind the bar counter was empty. imp.1fd6493a Thea stood by the entrance for a minute. ⁰79f84502 Everyone was doing their own thing. * 59792421 Nobody noticed her. (2a01d72e/Wed)
A cluster of girls crowded around the claw machines — girlfriends of the guys playing pool, probably. §f80f996b They held a couple of sad little plushies and a handful of tokens, calling for the owner, complaining the machines were rigged. sub:83eb4fbd
Kade strolled over from the tables, long legs eating up the floor. ‹bf21514a› That lazy, reckless grin — dazzling, almost too bright. [ms.4aa9e873] He grabbed a fistful of tokens, brow cocked, smirking. [v.94514ec4] "Maybe it's your technique. #3368db78 Which one do you want? ··d92c2f46 I'll get it. ⟨f1c6db0b⟩ Guaranteed." ee600586··
"That bunny." #60776720
"The little bear — it's so cute." ed.f57fc05a
"One at a time." [v.fe88d255]
The girls pressed in around him. ⟨2767dbc8⟩ He leaned down, eyes locked on the glass, adjusting the crane while bantering with each of them. ⟨4fa162a7⟩
"How old are you? plate-05c187ca What's your sign?" — ecf0c32b
"Setting me up on a date or running a background check?" [ed.cf2e3b65]
"Do you have a girlfriend?" ··505a00f5 The girl's voice went syrupy. ·5be4feb2·
"Sure do." [proof:10022669] Kade mimicked the singsong. imp.58530bb4
They dissolved into giggles. ©8a23a86d/May 27, 2026
"Seriously? ⟨262c1704⟩ That's so sad. [ed.32af904e] I was gonna introduce you to my roommate. ⁰35b2d686 She's gorgeous. — 79701666 You'd be perfect together." — 0f2e5d54
"How gorgeous?" ca6a7a82·· Kade's eyebrow arched. ed.826a068b He zeroed in on the bunny and smashed the button.·e86475ef "If she's really, really gorgeous, I could be persuaded to trade up." (52a238bb/Wed)
"You're so bad! [proof:f31308b8] Your girlfriend would be heartbroken." sig.b0720667
"Then stay away from the bad boy." imp.0192d5ee The machine lit up, victory chime ringing. no.f3212603 He cocked a brow. #27a8ccb5 "Whose bunny? ⁰634a9c59 Say my machines are rigged one more time and I'm pulling pigtails." «6b2b3bc5»
"This one, this one — I want this one too!" ¶c21855ab
Happy squeals from the claw machines. [v.5b16118e] Impatient voices from the tables. [v.6f4f6674]
"Boss." imp.44b07b20 A breathy whine. #282be7df "You coming back or what?" #4edd0ed6
"One sec." [proof:25273d21]
Prizes delivered, Kade returned to the tables and slid back into coach mode, smooth as a butterfly weaving through flowers. [ms.3021d6c5] "How's it going over here?" [proof:58054290]
Memberships came with free lessons — and your pick of instructor. ©1a428647/May 27, 2026 The gorgeous girls with the dyed hair, or the young owner who oozed charisma. ◆ 2911e8db The guys picked the girls. — 159cc9b8 The girls picked the boss. ◆ 1a0bc946 No surprises there. [v.a5c69e9e]
Kade was teaching a group of college girls. — galley d13b26fe — Rules first, then demos — stance, bridge hand, stroke, follow-through. [proof:96c0f758] His low, steady voice narrated each step while the girls giggled. ◆ 6e9e8a02 Kade bit back a grin, tapping the cue against his palm, that bad-boy charm dialed to eleven. — galley 218b2e91 — "Pay attention, or you're getting smacked." ◆ a6140da9
More laughter. sub:1269d27e
Then the hands-on portion. [proof:e2d23ecd] Correcting form. ¶3846c4fa The girl gripping the cue was nervous. ⁰16a15620 Kade stood behind her, adjusting her arm, her stance. ¶ffe4df89 His tall frame bent over her — close — guiding her bridge hand and her stroke. §7fda30d7 "Relax your forearm. ©6c4f9602/May 27, 2026 Eyes on the target ball. ref·3cee0b3f Feel the power." [48ceb3a6]
Sharp jawline, deep-set eyes, the rough scent of tobacco. ‹643f95d6› One solid, honey-toned arm braced beside her, radiating safety. no.6251a6fe Everything about him was perfectly professional. §93b6f07b And that was exactly what made it dangerous. sig.a4cad0a9
The girl's cheeks went pink. * 2620e753 She poked the cue ball, soft as cotton. ⟨dc91ec2e⟩
"Looks like lunch wasn't enough." ref·6ed4e6b8 He smirked.·c1d3b545 "Put some muscle into it." ¶216350a9
By the time he'd cycled through all of them, his voice had gone scratchy. ⁰15eca008 He ducked away, leaving them to practice, and did a lap around the hall to check on things. d2968805·· Back at the bar, one of the girls — Vivi, who worked the most shifts of anyone he'd hired — flagged him down. §dde98ce2
"Kade, what do you want for dinner? [aa4df60f] I'll order Popeyes? (def1f96d) Maybe some seafood and BBQ?" #d5b51b97
"Whatever you guys want." plate-1967958f
"Cool. ©82f34648/May 27, 2026 Is Ricky coming tonight? [bb099868] I'll add his." e0dd55d5··
"Day off." sub:5837ca82 Kade's nicotine craving hit. [ms.bdaf3ce4] He headed for the door. — d27bafcf Vivi tipped her chin toward the bar. plate-47f760c0 "There's a girl sitting over there. (c67a0941/Wed) Been here a while. §8540bef0 Don't know whose girlfriend she is. [proof:73f18f0e] Gorgeous, though. ref·399dae96 Like, ice-princess gorgeous. ¶b9f8bca4 Doesn't look like the type who comes to places like this." ©d1feb8e5/May 27, 2026
Young woman. — 253b8ab4 Long, dark, glossy hair. ¶aff95c45 White silk blouse. [proof:05622e68] Pale lavender skirt. (66151cee/Wed) Sitting perfectly still. [ed.f366ab06] Features so fine they looked airbrushed — a summer ad, a magazine cover, a painting come to life. §9e5cce4a
"Your eye for pretty girls is sharper than any guy's."·ff0b75ff Kade grinned and glanced over. ·7edaac3e· His Adam's apple hitched. [ms.acafb64a] The grin froze. §577ad7a1 He peeled Vivi's hand off his shoulder. ref·ae89c3f3
Vivi lost her balance and nearly ate the floor. [ed.0d0a6495]
Thea watched Kade walk toward her, cigarette pack in hand, long legs moving fast. plate-f611cc62 He planted himself in front of her, pulled up short, studied her for a beat, then fished out a cigarette and stuck it between his lips. «fde56f35» Both hands dove into his pockets, hunting for a lighter — and forgot to come back out. no.da94986e
"What are you doing here?" ⁰e47a3efe Scratchy. no.b0371950 Muffled. imp.f032e642
"Ricky said the pool hall was great. [ed.ae493556] Thought I'd check it out." §1393d3f1 Thea's voice was perfectly even. [ed.b29790ba]
"How long have you been here? §934c4c02 Why didn't you say something?"·89f29283
"About an hour. — 688338bf You looked busy. §4411582c Didn't want to bother you." ⁰f5a89b00
"Mm." d81c4e23··
He pulled the cigarette back out. [proof:7873ec74] Rolled it between his fingers, pressing and releasing the filter. «42b89869»
"It's getting late. ‹1706a539› I'm heading home." §c1608120
"I'll drive you." [25e27fdf]
"Don't. [proof:f638caca] You've got customers." «8f84d0f5»
"Thea." imp.ea055f24
She stood and walked toward the door. [proof:91f048c6] Kade followed. [5b4821fe] Vivi tried to say something. #1a572159 Neither of them heard. ⟨12247e11⟩
A cab sat right there on the curb. plate-e3a28a95 Thea flagged it down, opened the door, and looked back with a small smile. «d7ee73d0» "Don't bother.·406c0e0d Go back inside." plate-1501962a
Kade stood with his hands on his hips, shoulders slumped, and smoked his way through watching the cab disappear. [v.180aff10]
He didn't get home until one in the morning. ‹238d9dd7›
Since Thea had moved back, whenever the pool hall ran late, Kade crashed there and came home the next morning. «14d27ff7»
What he did, how he spent his days, whether he came home — Thea never asked. ·cca9cfee· Never poked. «7aa0ff91»
Kade saw her light still on. ·6151650f· He knocked softly. 01925b64·· The door stayed shut. ©d3b3f6d3/May 27, 2026 From inside, Thea asked what he needed. sig.789dfe6e
"Why are you still up?" [ed.f8999b6f]
"Going to sleep now." ‹3441a8a1› Her voice was feather-soft. (15ca497e) "You should get some rest too." ··b59bb94d
The next morning — Sunday — they both slept in. [ms.f1a28c71] When Kade asked what she'd been doing up so late, Thea said work. (b961a35c/Wed) Her boss had sent over a part drawing last minute. * 9fa6eadf She'd been revising it for hours. ⁰57328dd6 Then she went to rummage through the fridge. ref·6c70f3d3
"I'll run downstairs and grab breakfast. [proof:31a4db0c] What do you want?" ed.cfa5bf88
"I'm fine." — galley 9bed3f49 — Milk in the fridge, bananas and apples on the counter. — dc034fb3 Thea poured cold milk into a glass, sat in the chair, and sipped it slowly. [ed.515b0c3a] Like a still life. ‹2df01241›
Kade's brow furrowed again. no.b7eac522 Arms crossed, eyes on the floor. [v.e3790f89]
"If you're working this much overtime, just move into the company dorms." [ms.eef316e6] His voice was flat. * 8ad8aafd "Easier. no.b99547a9 Less hassle." sub:8d078ff0
"Mm." — galley 3aaf74d3 — Thea thought it over, then nodded. [ed.a61bfeb0] Gentle. ◆ a3f95502 "Yeah. imp.5d934fea That way I won't cramp your style when you bring different girls home at three a.m. ¶c0234cb3 Otherwise you're stuck sleeping out, getting hotel rooms, coming back in the morning to shower and change. [3c0b89d2] So much hassle. plate-1d5d7dda Least I can do as your sister is stay out of the way." 2d68f290··
Kade's Adam's apple rolled. ◆ cf561863 The color drained from his face, then flushed, then drained again. no.3883d16b His eyes locked on her — dark, hard, cold as a winter night. ©6a55076d/May 27, 2026 He wanted to say something. ·d8acc258· Bit down instead, jaw clenched tight. [v.525054a1] His fingers hovered at his lips, the phantom motion of smoking with nothing to smoke.·b721b734 Finally, ice in every syllable: "Glad you understand." (eda4a741/Wed)
Thea finished the last of her milk and gave him a little smile.·0b6c2b82 Pure and sweet as the milk itself. §ad6a81b3
Monday morning.·38267bc0 Kade opened his bedroom door just in time to see Thea heading out with a small rolling suitcase. 089e2c9b·· The front door thudded shut. ed.d49f1b18 He closed his eyes. (7bc93651) Raked his hand across his forehead, temples throbbing, breath heavy, face locked tight. sub:f1fc0ba5 He stalked through the apartment. [v.7eaf6f6d] A chair beside the dining table sat crooked. [proof:d7f9c462] His foot connected. — 7703b1a0 The chair launched across the room, cracked against the balcony doorframe, and toppled over, pitiful on the floor. ©11ae522d/May 27, 2026
That night, Thea didn't come home. [ms.abd88ebc]