Chapter 2

The bass from the jukebox had finally thinned out to a low, rhythmic hum, vibrating through the soles of my black pumps and up into my calves. The diner, usually a cacophony of clattering silverware and shouting patrons, had settled into a drowsy, smoke-hazed lull. It was two in the morning, that sacred hour when the night owls and the insomniacs ruled the vinyl booths. I sat in the corner, the spot he had claimed for me hours ago, nursing a cup of coffee that had gone cold long before the night began. The neon sign outside buzzed with an erratic flicker, casting a sickly pink and electric blue glow across the checkered floor, painting shadows that danced along the walls like restless ghosts. I shifted in the seat, the leather of my dress creaking softly against my thighs. I had spent the last hour changing, not in a full-blown gown, but in a way that felt like a declaration. The dress was silk, a deep emerald green that hugged my curves with a possessive tightness, the kind of fabric that whispered against my skin with every breath I took. I had kicked off the uncomfortable heels during the appetizer