Amelia stirred beneath the covers, reaching instinctively to the other side of the bed—only to find it cold. Empty.
Her eyes opened slowly, confusion knitting across her features. The bed beside her was undisturbed. No rumpled sheets. No scent of another body. Just space. Silence.
She sat up, blinking. Brad was gone.
A quiet anxiety coiled in her chest as she slipped out of bed and padded into the hallway. The guest bathroom—empty. The living room—silent. She checked the kitchen, the porch. Nothing.
No note.
Not even a damn mug in the sink.
She tried not to overthink. But still, something felt off. The way he had held her last night—gentle, but frustrated. The way he’d kissed her goodnight with too much restraint. Like he was fighting something. Or someone.
Amelia returned to her be
