Lena read: “A ‘bitch’ is a woman who doesn’t beg for a man’s time, approval, or love. She has her own life. And that scares the hell out of nice girls.”

“You know what changed?” he asked.

That was the first time in six months he’d asked a question about her life.

Friday night, Mark showed up at her door unannounced—something he’d never done. He had flowers. Real ones, not gas-station roses.