MELISSA’S POV

After practice, I didn’t bother trying to call Xavier again.

The truth was, I had already done that more than I cared to admit—watched his name flash on my screen, tapped “call,” and waited for the faintest sound of his voice on the other end. And every time, the call had rung until it faded into that hollow void of voicemail.

So, that night, I decided to let him be.

It was easier to pretend I wasn’t bothered than to keep chasing silence.

I curled up in ...