MELISSA’S POV

The buzz of my phone cut through the quiet of my apartment. I was sprawled on the couch with a heating pad pressed against my lower belly, groaning softly as another wave of cramps pulsed through me. My cycle had always been unpredictable, but this month felt worse than usual—like my body was staging a rebellion. And the worst of it was that my period hadn't even started yet.

I reached for the phone with half-closed eyes, expecting maybe a text from Xavier or one of ...