The air in Miami had cooled slightly, a soft breeze carrying the tang of the ocean through the streets. It should have been comforting, the way the city always smelled like possibility and salt. But today, it felt heavy. Today, it felt like the weight of every debt, every whispered insult, every judgmental glance was pressing down on me all at once.
I had spent the night tossing and turning, the numbers in my head looping endlessly. Bills. Loan notices. Calls from collectors that I had ignored too many times, hoping they would just go away. But they hadn’t. They never did.
Dean had tried to calm me, but I could tell he was tense too. His hand brushing mine as we walked to the café that morning had been reassuring, yes, but it was also a reminder of the reality we couldn’t ignore.
“Angel
