I wake up with the sun warm on my back and open my eyes to find Liam’s side of the bed empty. Sighing, I pull the sheet over my head.

True to his word, he didn’t touch me last night. Not even when I woke up just before dawn sprawled on his chest with his arousal caught between us. Looking up, I found him watching me, his hands locked behind his neck. With rejection stinging in my chest, I maneuvered away and curled around a pillow, finally falling back to sleep.

The house is quiet. Without needing to look, I know he’s not here. I can’t explain it to myself, but some deep part of me feels when he’s here. In the same way a planet is bound by gravity to the sun, without Liam, I’m never more aware of being untethered and alone.

Eventually I rouse myself and take a shower, then nibble halfheartedly on toast. I turn on the TV in the living room for background noise. I reheat yesterday’s coffee and scroll through Facebook. Around ten, when I know my parents are both at work, I call the house and leave a message on their ancient answering machine.

“Hey, Mom and Dad, it’s me. Just wanted to let you know I’m doing good. Working hard and saving money for school.” I almost choke on the lies. “I, uh, miss you. We’ll talk soon. Love you. Bye.”

I throw my phone on the couch, where it rings a moment later. I see Karina’s face on the screen and hesitate—unlike my parents, she has a pretty impressive bullshit meter. The call goes to voicemail, but my phone rings again immediately. Having been down this road with her before, I know she won’t stop calling until I pick up.

Sighing, I answer. “Hey, K.”

“Where the fuck have you been?” she yells. “Some bimbo answered your door and said she lives there now! I thought you were fucking dead…” She transitions fluidly to Spanish, which she knows I don’t speak. But I get the gist easily enough.

“I’m sorry I worried you,” I say when she finally winds down. “I haven’t called because, honestly, I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“Tell me what’s going on!”

Wincing, I rip off the Band-Aid. “I’m postponing med school for a year. I moved in with Liam. He said I could quit my jobs, so I did.”

She’s quiet for two seconds, then explodes. “WHAT! ¿Quién eres y qué has hecho con mi amiga? Has perdido la cabeza!”

Pretty sure she just told me I’m crazy.

“I know it seems… out of character for me, but uh, I’ve never been happier.”

“Bitch, you sound like you’re sucking lemons!”

In spite of myself, I laugh. “Because my inner feminist keeps trying to break out of her cage. And I don’t want you to think less of me.”

Karina sighs. “I don’t care if you’re shacking up with Mr. Fancy. Shit, besides the choking and spanking he’s a regular Prince Charming.”

I laugh again, a little wildly. If only she knew. My life isn’t Disney—it’s the Brothers Grimm.

Karina continues, “But you’re still going to med school, right?”

“Yes. I just deferred a year. Happens all the time.”

Please don’t let that, too, be a lie.

“Are you free for lunch?” She pauses. “Or wait, are you allowed to leave the dungeon?”

I really shouldn’t have answered the phone.

“I can leave whenever I want, but my car’s in the shop.”

“I’ll pick you up,” she says quickly. “Give me the address.”

I bite my lip, wracking my brain for a plausible lie, when my excuse strolls in the front door. “Sorry, K. Liam just walked in with lunch. Can I call you later?”

“Put Mr. Fancy on the phone right now,” she snaps.

I pull the device away from my ear. Liam stops on the threshold of the kitchen, head cocked in question.

“Karina wants to talk to you.”

He holds out his hand for the phone. For the next few minutes, Karina chews him out. Liam gives appropriate responses at the appropriate times, and finally hangs up with a tired smirk.

“She’s a good friend,” he says, handing me back my phone. He walks to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water. “Did you really tell her I had a nine-inch dick?”

My face flames. “Uhh—maybe?”

He laughs and takes a swig of water. “Nine and a half, actually.”

I roll my eyes. “At a certain point it stops mattering. Besides, most women would rather have an eraser than a pencil.”

Liam guffaws. “Good Lord, woman. Where do you come up with this shit?”

I move past him, grabbing a bottle of water for myself. “Whatever. It’s not like you’re lacking in either department. Where’d you go so early, anyway?”

Walking around the island, he takes a seat on a stool. “Had to get my car and run an errand.”

I lower the bottle from my mouth. “What kind of errand?”

“The illegal kind. I’m going to teach you how to shoot a gun.”

Definitely not Disney.