Justin’s POV
I woke up with an ache in my chest so hollow it almost felt physical, like something had been scooped out of me and left empty. The words from yesterday replayed on a loop, every sharp syllable, every tear in Annabel’s voice, every time I’d seen her flinch.
"Love isn’t enough if I can’t trust you." I heard her voice in my head again, she was literally hunting me at this point. I rubbed my face hard, as if I could scrub the memory away, but it clung. The more I tried to ignore it, the louder it echoed. I stared at the ceiling until the weight of it became unbearable, then threw the covers off and forced myself up. If I didn’t move, I’d drown in it. Practice was the only distraction I had. Or at least, it was supposed to be.
The gym lights were harsh, the floor echoing with s
