Page 74 of Sage Haven

I tried to smile, but it was weak, as I kept going, “And I don’t deserve to keep chasing after a man who won’t let me explain myself.”

Sam wiped at her eyes, shaking her head.

But then, as if struck by sudden clarity, her gaze sharpened, “You know what?”

I raised a brow in question.

She continued, “Castor’s at work. And I don’t need him to have a good time. We’re going out tonight.”

Her grin was fierce.

Confident.

“House of Music has a show tonight,” she added, nudging me. “And it’s been forever since we went to a concert together.”

I hesitated.

The weight of my depression clung to me, dragging me down, whispering excuses in my ear.

But Sam didn’t budge.

She moved closer, her voice softer, “I know you’re hurting, Sage. But I need you tonight. And you need this.”

Her hand found mine again.

I wanted to argue. Wanted to crawl back into my bed and disappear.

But instead, I caved, like I always did when it came to Sam.

“Alright,” I whispered, letting a small smile tug at my lips, “I guess I owe you after last time.”

We both laughed, and it was the first sound in days that didn’t make my chest hurt.

And for the first time in days, I felt something I thought I’d lost.

A glimmer of hope.

Fragile, flickering

But alive.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.

16

REICH

Iburied myself inwork after the night she came back—drowning in tasks, lists, orders, distractions—anything that might keep my mind from circling the same drain it had spiraled into since the moment I met her.

But no matter how deep I buried myself, no matter how many hours I filled with precision and sweat, the truth was always there.

Waiting.

Every morning, without fail, I checked the surveillance feed surrounding my home.

The cameras I’d installed years ago, out of necessity, now served a new purpose.

I told myself it was to make sure she stayed away.