Sophia’s P.O.V

That night, when Nathan called, I tried my best to sound optimistic, to not let the tremor in my chest crawl into my voice.

“Hey, babe,” he said, his voice low and warm, the kind that always made me exhale without realizing I’d been holding my breath.

“Hey, you,” I answered softly, forcing a smile he couldn’t see. “How’s everything over there? You sound tired.”

He chuckled lightly. “Yeah, a bit. It’s been a long day, but the ...