Page 128 of Fangirl

It’s already a ghost.

And it’s the only piece of him I’ll ever get to keep.

CHAPTER 24

JAKE

For once, I don’t have to be anywhere. No meetings, no shoots, no bullshit. Just a day where I can sleep in, wake up slowly… wake up to her.

Except the bed’s empty. And worse, the sheets next to me are already cold.

I groan and rub the sleep from my eyes. It’s barely seven.

I’m a morning person, always have been. But today?Today, I wanted to stay wrapped up in her. Lose hours just holding her close, kissing her awake, making love until neither of us knew where the morning ended and the afternoon began.

Instead, I drag myself out of bed, tugging on sweats, and find her outside—curled up on the terrace in my hoodie, knees tucked under her, with her laptop open. The oversized fabric swallows her whole, and for a second, all I can do is stand there… watching.

God, she’s beautiful. Calm. Lost in whatever world she’s building on that screen.

I hope she’s writing her novel. She’s so fucking brilliant; she just doesn’t see it yet. One day… one day, she’ll let me read it. Something that’s all her, not fan fiction, not hidden behind a screen name. Just Amy.

I step outside, grinning as I lean against the doorframe. “Morning, love. You know… I had plans for us this morning.”

She glances up, a small smile tugging at her lips, but even with the sunglasses hiding her eyes, I can feel the distance.

I smirk, trying to break the tension. “Most of those plans involved you… under me… moaning my name.”

She huffs a laugh, quiet and polite, but it lands heavy in my chest. Something’s off. I feel it.

“I was too warm in bed, and I needed to book my plane ticket back.”

And just like that… the morning I pictured, the lazy, perfect one? It slips through my fingers. I’d almost let myself forget this was temporary and that any second now, she’d be gone. Back to her world. Back to a place that doesn’t have me in it.

I force a smile, sitting across from her, trying to keep my tone light. “Well… I’ll be over soon anyway. We’re shootingCrown of Betrayalin Hungary, so we’ll only be two and a half hours apart. I’ll visit, you can visit… It won’t be that bad.”

“Yeah… sure.”

The words are wrong. Flat. Empty. She’s not meant to act, but she’s trying. And failing.

I push, needing something. “Don’t worry though. I cleared it with the production team. I’m still good for your brother’s wedding.”

She blinks like she almost forgot. “My brother? Oh no. Don’t worry about that.” She waves a hand, casual and detached. “I told my mom the truth at Christmas. There won’t be a plus-one.”

It makes sense. Of course it does, especially after everything that happened.

But fuck, hearing it? It feels like a door slamming shut. Like she’s already halfway gone.

I swallow hard, my throat thick as I force the words out, trying to sound casual. “So… your flight. When’s the, uh… dreadful day?”

I try to make it light. I fail.

“Today.”

Just like that—simple and final. She closes her laptop, smooths a hand over the hoodie swallowing her frame, and stands.

I’m too stunned to speak. Too blindsided to move.

But thenI react, and within seconds, I’m in front of her, blocking the hallway.