LIAM'S POV
I woke to empty space beside me. The sheets were cold. I could hear movement in the kitchen, the careful clink of a mug. Normal sounds, but the silence around them was all wrong.
I found Maya by the sink. She was staring out the window, her back straight.
“Morning,”I said.
She didn’t turn.“Morning.”
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
The word was a slab of concrete between us. I’d heard that tone before. It was the one she used with Daniel. My chest tightened. I moved to touch her shoulder. She shifted away, reaching for a dish towel.
My phone was still on the dresser, dead. I plugged it in. As it powered up, a sick feeling started in my gut. The screen lit, and notifications cascaded—all from Sasha. The previews alone were enough.
You can’t ignore this.
A reminder of what you’re ch
