She drew in a breath, hands pressing against the bench as she started to rise—
And then the light went out.
Just like that, the invitation vanished.
And her heart dropped with it.
The balcony light—gone.
Like a door quietly closing in her face.
Her breath caught. Her heart, already bracing for impact, stumbled in her chest.
Was he… done for the night?
Had she waited too long?
A cold knot curled in her stomach.
Stupid. Stupid for hesitating. For letting fear chew up all the minutes she could’ve used to fix this.
Harper noticed the shift in her expression. “Hey—don’t spiral,” she said gently. “It’s just a light. Doesn’t mean he’s gone. Maybe he just stepped inside.”
But Maya barely heard her. Her mind was already racing—picturing Damien alone in that dark suite, wounded and close
