XAVIER’S POV

After Melissa and I made our relationship official, things had been moving surprisingly smooth—almost too smooth, like life was giving me a chance to catch my breath after years of turbulence.

Dates, late-night calls that stretched until dawn. Cinema trips where she always stole half my popcorn and pretended she didn’t. Lazy movie nights in her living room, where the film would play in the background but I’d find myself watching her more than the screen.

With her, it ...