~Valerie~
The silver lighter in my pocket feels like it weighs fifty pounds. Every time I move, the cold metal digs into my thigh, almost hitting the exact spot where Evander’s hand had been the night before. It’s like a reminder that I’m carrying a piece of him on me, a trophy I never asked for but can’t seem to throw away.
I look toward the bar, where Rikky is working. She’s across the room, slamming a tray of shots onto a table for a group of patched members. Her movements are stiff, her shoulders hunched up to her ears. Even from here, I can smell the hurt coming off her, a sharp, sour scent that cuts through the thick smell of grease and hops. She doesn’t look at me. She’s acting like I’ve already betrayed her, and the worst part is, she isn’t entirely wrong.
To leave the lighter o
