Alexander’s parents were about to speak, but I answered first.
“No one. You heard wrong.”
They obviously hesitated, their expressions turning complicated as they glanced at me.
Alexander didn’t notice any of it. He just reached out, grabbed my wrist, and tugged me toward the door.
“Good timing,” he said as he walked. “You’re done talking, right? Come out with me.”
He didn’t ask if I wanted to go.
The car ride was silent.
I watched the streetlights ahead of us get left behind one by one, and I knew very clearly—there were things between us being left behind too.
The car stopped at an upscale downtown mall.
When I got out, I realized he was bringing me straight into a high-end boutique on the top floor.
“Take all of these out,” he told the sales associate.
Within minutes, rolling
