48: BITTERNESS ENKINDLED

  ARIEL'S POV   "Like I've said before, I don't really care about your past. I can only talk about the present. With the things I'm seeing at the moment," the baldheaded man told Luke. I was still standing, surveying him.   If he was talking about a love story that's going to unfold within Luke and me—mutual feelings—he was clearly mistaking. There is absolutely no way I could develop the devotedness I once had for Luke. I just don't see that happening anymore.   "Look, sir, thanks for protecting us from those guys. I really appreciate that. But please, don't start saying things that's never going to happen."   "I said nothing," the man said, raising his shoulders to a certain degree. "And by the way, the name is Foster. Foster Dickson."   Luke nodded. "Yeah, I think it's time we leave now."   He turned around and examined me, not giving me a friendly expression. "A correction right here: I'll be the only one leaving. She can stay here with you if she wants."   Luke bega