Noah

The glow from my phone screen was the only light in my room. The rest of the house was quiet — my parents were downstairs, half-watching TV and half-arguing about bills, and I’d been sitting here for almost an hour staring at the same text thread, not even sure what I was hoping to see.

Jessa Lombardi.

Her name was still there in my messages, the last text from weeks ago — something stupid and casual from when things between us were… easier. Before the kiss. Before Daniel. ...