Three AM. Noah gave up pretending to work.
His phone sat on the desk. Screen dark. Mocking him.
He'd picked it up seventeen times in the past hour. Set it down seventeen times. Each time telling himself he wouldn't call. Each time his hand reaching for it again anyway.
The office walls pressed in. Too quiet. Too empty. Just him and the ghost of what he'd lost.
His thumb unlocked the screen before he could stop himself. Her contact stared back. That photo. Her laughing. God, he missed that laugh.
He hit call.
It rang once. Twice. Three times. His heart hammered against his ribs. She wasn't going to answer. Why would she? It was three in the morning and he'd been radio silent for two weeks.
Four rings. Five.
Then: "Noah?"
Her voice. Rough with sleep. Confused. Beautiful.
He couldn'
