#Chapter 153: Bad Dreams

Agnes The house was as silent as a tomb when I returned from the bar. I slipped off my shoes at the door, not wanting to wake Thea with the sound of my footsteps. The clock in the hallway read 1:13 AM, and there was still no sign of Elijah. No car in the driveway, no light on in his office. Nothing. Although, when I glanced at my phone, I did see one text: “Something came up. Might not be home at all tonight. Talk later.” The message soothed something inside of me, but not completely. I still had no idea where he was, or rather, who he was with. Mason’s offer kept playing on repeat in my head, along with the memory of his warm hand on mine. Of course, I would never accept a marriage proposal for him. I didn’t love him anymore. And yet… For reasons I couldn’t completely explain, a tiny shred of me—perhaps some kind of hidden, nearly-forgotten part that had died along with our love all those years ago—wanted to say yes. Wanted to walk away from a