CASSIE'S POV.
I sank into the couch, feeling the soft cushions envelop me as the events of last night weighed heavily on my mind. My head still throbbed from the lingering haze, and each memory made it harder to breathe normally. Daelan was there, quietly sitting beside me, his presence oddly grounding. I could still feel the aftershocks of everything, the panic, the fear, and the strange, intense moments between us that now made my cheeks warm with embarrassment.
Just then, the doorbell rang, jolting me from my thoughts. Daelan got up and walked to the door, opening it to reveal Sandy practically sprinting toward me. "Gurl!" she exclaimed, wrapping me in a tight hug. "I came as soon as I got your text. When I saw Margaret’s post, I’ve been worried sick."
I tried to steady myself and sm
