Juliette:
I woke to the sound of rain.
Soft, steady drops tapping against the window like a gentle knock. The room was warm, dimly lit by a pale gray sky that filtered through half-closed blinds. I blinked, stretching slightly.
And then I realized I wasn’t alone.
Cole’s arm was wrapped loosely around me, his chest rising and falling beneath my cheek. His hand was resting lightly on my hip, fingers twitching now and then, like he hadn’t fully fallen asleep.
Panic bloomed in my chest.
I froze, heart hammering. My mind flashed back to last night, to the pain, the running, the crashing ache of betrayal. Then this morning, Cole Kingston being my saving grace from all this. Everything still felt surreal—like I’d stepped out of my life and into someone else’s nightmare.
I shifted slightly,
