Lanry’s voice echoed behind her, soft enough to crumble anyone’s resolve.
“Maylen… if you don’t return tonight… I’ll come find you.”
She stopped breathing.
Aiden’s jaw tightened, and he stepped closer to Lanry to keep him from following her.
Maylen squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart felt bruised from too many directions at once.
“Don’t,” she whispered without turning around.
The sound of Lanry breaking wasn’t loud. It was a small, shattered exhale that somehow hurt more than anything he had ever shouted.
Aiden rested a hand on Lanry’s shoulder. “Let her breathe.”
Lanry didn’t move. Didn’t speak. He stared straight ahead like she had walked off with the last piece of him.
Maylen stepped out of the alley and into the cool night, her pulse beating wildly in her ears. She didn’t know w
