The sunlight was merciless. Holly groaned as it sliced through the curtains, her head pounding in rhythm with every memory that tried to surface. Bits of laughter, the clink of glasses, the swirl of music — all flashing back in uneven fragments. She rolled over, half-expecting warmth beside her, but the bed was empty.
Alone.
She pressed her palms to her eyes, muttering, “Never again,” though she knew she’d said that before. The faint scent of cider still clung to her hair, and she dragged herself into the shower, letting the water wash away the remnants of the night. By the time she wrapped herself in a towel, the fog in her mind had shifted from sharp regret to reluctant amusement.
Coffee. She needed coffee.
Padding into the kitchen, she froze. Lee was there — sleeves rolled up, spatu
