Evelyn's Pov.
The doorbell rang twice, sharp and impatient, slicing through the quiet of the house. My chest tightened. He had come so soon—earlier than I expected. A voice shouted behind my head, but I didn’t move. It had to be Zack, but the thought of facing him right now made my legs feel like lead.
“Can you get it?” I asked Sam, hoping she would be my shield. She was glued to her phone, scrolling lazily, her expression calm as ever.
“You’re actually doing nothing,” she said, eyes fixed on her screen, completely unbothered by my panic.
The doorbell rang again. Aunt groaned from the kitchen, a soft, irritated sound. “So impatient.” She wiped her wet hands on her apron and walked slowly to the door. Her steps were deliberate, measured, and somehow filled with the weight of knowing to
