TESSA.
I woke up the next morning to the faint light slipping through my curtains. My phone was right beside me on the bed, the screen dark. I picked it up and pressed the button. Nothing. No message. No call. Not even a missed one.
My chest tightened.
I sat up slowly, staring at the blank screen, wondering if maybe it would light up if I just waited. But it didn’t. It stayed quiet, the same way he did.
Jaxson hadn’t texted. Not once.
A bitter laugh slipped out before I could stop it. Of course, he didn’t. This wasn’t new. He did this before, disappeared for days like my feelings didn’t matter. But this time felt worse. Maybe because I actually believed him when he said I could trust him.
I threw the phone back on the bed and pressed my hands over my face. I could still feel the dull
