LORETTA

Mrs Parks seemed determined to avoid both of us during breakfast.

Whether it was because of guilt over yesterday or because she could sense a silent storm brewing between Elion and me, I couldn't tell.

Elion sat across from me, the long dining table putting a good space between us, but not enough. As usual, he was sharply dressed in an expensive, tailored obsidian black suit today; his tie, however, was a deep shade of green. I watched him silently as he buttered a slice of toast as if this were a normal morning

Anytime he lifted his eyes to mine, my heart would lurch into my throat, and...