Owens

ith the force of a physic

like I'd been plunged into an ice bath. The sw

showed no emotion, as if she were merely dec

g myself to remain calm. "Is

His mind is entirely on the NCAA Frozen Four. He has no time for these things.

he realization was a

g more gentle, yet far more lethal, "ending this relation

at I was to them. A bu

all dissolved into a cold numbness. I did

ady it surprised even me.

ompliance. She leaned back in her

eacup. "I expect you to handle it

e sound of a car engine and voices

and his father, Preston Ca

ature and composed than he did on campus. When he s

g man, merely glanced at me as if I w

kissing her husband on the

t second before he looked away. No g

ct family portrait. And I was the unwelco

ty, "since Christian is back, why don't you join us for di

of someone besto

ke a trapped animal, waiting

le was laden with exquisite food, bu

w tones about some charity gala,

e, not looking at me once,

wn, wishing I cou

tian with a light, casual tone. "Christian

eaped into

knife paus

er, but at me. A familiar, mo

le to hear. "She got a cat. Guess she needed something to fill the time. Y

second, his jaw tightened, as if he hadn't meant them t

oned dart, stabbing s

dith exchanged a

d just slapped me across the

he humiliate me like thi