Roman hadn’t slept much.
He’d spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, listening to the sound of the waves and Tessa’s steady breathing beside him. Every time he shut his eyes, his mother’s words echoed in his head. Tessa’s face lingered like a ghost.
He’d been told to make this trip count. But he’d barely made anything count. Not with the things he’d said. Not with how she’d looked at him like he offended her.
By sunrise, he decided he was done being the man who only made things worse.
When Tessa woke up, he was already dressed — a crisp white shirt, rolled sleeves, no tie, his hair damp and pushed back. She blinked groggily, confused. “You’re up early.”
Roman’s lips twitched. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Shocker,” she muttered, sitting up.
“I was thinking…” He hesitated, adjusting hi
