Rayla woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand. She groaned, squinting at the screen as the harsh morning light filtered through her curtains. The name flashing across the screen made her heart skip a beat: Zack.
She hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button. Her hair was a mess from tossing and turning all night, and her eyes still felt heavy with exhaustion. But she couldn’t ignore him. Taking a deep breath, she pressed accept and forced a soft smile as Zack’s face filled the screen.
“Good morning, my sunshine,” Zack’s voice echoed through the phone, warm and familiar. His smile was as bright as ever, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
Rayla’s chest tightened with guilt, but she managed to keep her smile in place. “You and that nickname
