Matthew's car smelled faintly of clean leather and rain.
Bella sat rigidly in the passenger seat, his suit jacket still draped over her shoulders like a shield she wasn't sure she deserved.
The city lights slid across the windshield in long, blurred streaks.
For a full minute, neither of them spoke.
Then Bella finally broke the silence.
“You shouldn't have done that."
Matthew kept his eyes on the road.
“Done what?"
“Claimed me."
“I didn't claim you." His tone was calm. “I protected you."
“You don't even know me," she said, half angry, half shaken.
“I know enough."
Bella let out a short laugh that held no humor.
“You know I'm a mess."
“I know you're a mother."
The simple sentence startled her.
She turned toward him.
“That doesn't explain why you were at Lisa's party."
“I w
