*Cat*

An icy grip tightened around my heart, squeezing painfully until I swore I could feel it stop as I watched Elio’s face fall. I couldn’t hear the words through the phone as he slowly sank onto the couch, but I knew immediately that whatever was said, wasn’t good.

I’d never seen Elio become that pale, look that panicked. He stared blankly ahead like he was barely registering the other side of the line. I gripped a hand over my heart, my imagination ...