Jade’s POV
I didn’t sleep much.
The message replayed in my mind like a broken record all night.
“Meet me by the lake tomorrow. I need to show you something.”
It had no name. But I didn’t need one. I knew it was him.
The lake wasn’t far from school—just past the trees behind the training field. Students came here sometimes to skip class, sneak off, or drink under the stars. I’d never had a reason to go. Until now.
By morning, my heart was racing before my feet even hit the floor.
Ashley raised her brows at me when I dressed with a little more care than usual, slipping into a soft sweater and pulling my hair back loosely. I shrugged off her unspoken questions and left the house early, saying I needed to return a library book.
She didn’t press me. But she knew.
The air was crisp, the
