Damon's POV
Winter’s evasion had always been infuriating, but now it was unbearable. Leaving her at the park felt like walking away from a ticking time bomb. Every step I took was heavier than the last, weighed down by the unanswered questions hanging in the air between us.
But what rattled me the most was Kai.
I know that whatever she's hiding could affect my seemingly budding relationship with him. What she isn't saying may not be as big as I imagined, but still, the fear of the unknown is so much worse than facing reality.
Instead of going home, I drove to the gym. It wasn’t an escape—it was a release. The smell of sweat and the rhythmic pounding of basketballs against the court floor had always been my therapy.
I grabbed a ball and started shooting, each swish of the net chipping
