Extinguished Hope

Parker let out a sigh that felt like it'd been stuck in his chest forever. "Apparently, now it's open—great fucking job, me—I've got two women I'm having a soft on. And only one I can actually have. Fantastic. So much for forgetting and locking Maya away in the back of my head where she should belong as far as my life is concerned."

His voice was low, sarcastic, like it was dragging itself through the mud. "And I just had to go and show her my soft side, huh? Now she knows something's up, and hell no, she won't let go this time." His jaw tightened, hands curling into fists for the second time that day.

"This… this jeopardizes everything. Whatever, screw it. I need to get my shit together and get Naomi the hell out of here. The signal's weak, but whoever's after her? They're here."

He stood up, straightening his sweater shirt like it mattered—like anything mattered right now—and pushed open the stall door. Empty. Lucky him. Alone in a goddamn toilet.