The Way I Used to Be (The Way I Used to Be, #1)

by Amber Smith

The way I used to be.

A ROOM WITHOUT BOOKS IS LIKE A BODY WITHOUT A SOUL—CICERO.

“Are you really okay?” I nod, even though I’m not sure if I am—if I ever will be.

in the space between us. I didn’t say anything when she stopped

take so much,” she says, her voice getting chopped up by the

Why do I feel like, sometimes, I have no one in the entire world who knows me in even the slightest, most insignificant way?

He has no way of knowing how sometimes it physically hurts to smile. How a smile can sometimes feel like the biggest lie I’ve ever told.

sounds from the coffeepot. I emerge, hopefully not looking like

okay, Minnie?” Conner asks, squeezing my shoulder a little too vigorously. Minnie, I haven’t heard that one in

why would he need to rape someone he was already sleeping with?”

He needed to make her feel worthless, needed to control her, needed to hurt her, needed to leave her powerless.