Lena tucked a strand of honey-brown hair behind her ear, shelving a stack of romance novels. She winced at the visual assault of tinsel, red bows, and twinkling lights covering every shelf of the small bookstore. The pristine holiday display clashed violently with the gray slush and gritty snow melting onto the mat from a dozen customers' boots—a mess she will have to take care of later. The bell above the door jingled, a...

The hinges groaned as I eased Bill's back door open. His familiar scent—wood smoke and that piney cologne—punched me in the gut, making my knees wobble. Breathe, Tina. Just breathe. I traced the edge of their kitchen counter, fingertips skating over chilled marble. His empty coffee mug had sat there, lipstick smudged on the rim. Not hers. Mine. From Tuesday. I had watched her toss it in the dishwasher through the window,...

Vivian stood in the hallway outside her apartment, frowning at the man knocking on her best friend Lisa's door across the hall. She recognized him immediately—Jim. Lisa's go-to fuckboy. Tall, tattooed, and annoyingly good-looking, he was the kind of guy who made his intentions clear just by existing. Vivian crossed her arms over her chest, irritation bubbling up as she watched him knock again, louder this time. "She's not...

Matthew's eyes fluttered open, the morning light stabbing at his skull. He groaned, shielding his face with his forearm. The room spun lazily, a hazy carousel of memory fragments—loud music, flashing lights, the taste of cheap beer, and her. His lips tingled at the thought, a phantom sensation of softness and warmth. He couldn't recall her name, but he remembered the way she had laughed, low and throaty, before pulling hi...