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Chapter 33 by micdan282 micdan282

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Real

For the first time in a while, life seemed to be... working. Rikki’s days were full. She was back in the swing of work, her desk finally clear of the backlog that had haunted her after her “sick leave.” Devin stayed on track, still showing up to appointments with his signature smirk and just enough charm to make her forget, for a moment, everything that had passed between them. He was doing well. She reminded herself to be glad for that.

And Finn… things with Finn had been going good. He came over more often now, bringing food, movies and easy conversation. They’d started going on real dates again. One Friday night it was dinner at that little Korean place with the great dumplings and the broken neon sign. Another time, they spent the afternoon at the lake, lying on the dock with their feet in the water, the sun warm on their skin.

It felt easy. It felt like enough, almost. But then she’d come home and pour herself a drink. One glass turned into three which turned into a whole bottle. The silence of the apartment stretched long and hollow, and she filled it with whatever **** she could.

She still hadn’t put the Nightingale suit back on. Some nights, she would stare at the crate, drunk and quiet, fingers resting on the handle like she might open it. But she never did. She told herself she was healing. That this peace was what she needed. That Finn’s arms around her at night were worth more than any rooftop chase or whispered fight in the dark. And maybe they were. Because when she leaned into him, when he kissed her and murmured stupid jokes that still made her smile, it felt real. She wasn’t sure she deserved that. But for now, she let herself have it. Just for a while longer.

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