The afternoon sun poured through Amelia’s apartment window, bathing the living room in a soft golden light. Outside, the city buzzed with spring—life in motion, people moving forward.
Inside, Amelia felt anything but forward.
She was curled on the couch, wearing an oversized sweater and leggings, hair loosely tied up. Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.
Brad.
Again.
She hesitated, staring at the screen. A part of her wanted to ignore it. But the other part—the one that had let him stay the night, the one that had kissed him in a moment of emotional chaos—picked it up.
“Hey,” she answered quietly.
“You up for some company?” Brad’s voice was warm, casual, a welcome contrast to the storm that had been brewing in her chest for days. “Thought I could swing by with coffee… maybe pastrie
