Shirley
The moment I stepped out of the clinic after storming away from Elias, I wanted nothing more than silence. But the universe, apparently, had a twisted sense of timing.
“Asher,” I muttered under my breath when I saw him leaning against his truck by the curb, arms folded, jaw tight.
He pushed off the vehicle as soon as he caught sight of me. His eyes were restless, searching, like a man fighting with himself. “Shirley—we need to talk.”
I narrowed my gaze. “If this is another half-truth or one of your vague warnings, don’t bother.”
He flinched, but didn’t back off. “It’s not that. I can’t—” His voice cracked before he pulled it steady. “I can’t keep lying to you.”
The street around us was quiet, only the low hum of neon buzzing from the bar across the way. My pulse quickened, b
