““It was near midnight when his cell phone finally rang. Thank God, it was her. He answered the phone, short and sharp. “Jesus, Taylor, where have you been? You scared the hell out of me.” He heard the thickness in her voice, like she’d been crying recently. It broke his heart. Not a characteristic that was common to his woman. Weakness wasn’t her style. She spoke softly. “Don’t yell at me, okay? I’m fine. I’m heading home. I need sleep. I need to figure out what I’m going to do. I’m tired. Are you there?” “I am.” He softened his tone. “Have you eaten?” “I’m not hungry,” came the flat reply. “I could use a cigarette, though.””
