Chapter 9
The shrill ring of my phone pierced through my sleep. I fumbled for it on my nightstand, squinting at the screen through half-closed eyes. The brightness made me wince.
“Hi, Elena. Good morning!” Taylor’s cheerful voice came through before I could even say hello.
“Good morning, Taylor.” My voice was still thick with sleep, scratchy and low. “What happened? It’s still very early.”
“It’s 9:00 AM, miss, and don’t tell me you’re still sleeping.”
“Well, you just woke me up,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes with my free hand. I could hear the amusement in Taylor’s voice, and I knew she was probably already dressed, caffeinated, and ready to take on the day. Meanwhile, I was still trying to remember what day of the week it was.
“I was so curious, I couldn’t wait to see you later in the
