Chapter 25

“Are you ready?” Arrick, wearing jeans and a hoody under a denim jacket, strolls across the guest room I have been using for the past few weeks in Amber’s apartment, effortlessly casual and utterly bored while waiting for me.

I fling the last of my clothes haphazardly into my case and try to zip it shut unsuccessfully, bulging crazily, and I have no hope of closing it. Arrick frowns, moves me over, and pulls some rolled-up dresses out with a less-than-impressed brow dip at my packing skills. He folds them flat and places them in so he can at least close the case without much effort. He slides it down beside the other bags on the floor and watches me move to wander around aimlessly while checking for everything that is mine. I don’t want to return here for anything I may have left behind once I am out that door.

Amber and I are not close, and she won’t even miss me anyway. I want to shut the door on this part of my life and never walk back in again. I can feel his eyes on