Andy must have been utterly exhausted because the moment he lay down beside me, he drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. His chest rose and fell steadily, his presence grounding me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. I curled against him, inhaling the faint scent of his cologne, feeling an unspoken warmth. Before I knew it, I too had succumbed to sleep, lulled by his heartbeat against mine.
Then, a sharp shake jolted me awake. My eyes flew open to see Mama standing at the foot of my bed, her face pale with fury. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. I scrambled backward instinctively.
“Mama…?!” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“What is this nonsense, Cecile?! You’ve disappointed me beyond belief!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the quiet like a whip.
“Mama, I… I didn’t do anyt
