Chapter 83

• Gage's eyes slowly opened; he was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up, rubbing his temples, trying to recall the events of the previous night. He was at Nicole's place, but he hadn't planned on staying. He had come to argue with her, to clear the air and settle their differences once and for all.
• But something had changed. Something had shifted, and he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He remembered the tension between them, the anger and frustration that had been building for weeks. But he also remembered the way Nicole's eyes had sparkled in the dim light, the way her skin had felt beneath his fingertips.
• Gage swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. Nicole's bed, her dresser, her closet – everything was just as he had expected. But Nicole herself was nowhere to be found.