Chapter 12

Nathan dreamed of Annabelle all night. Her smile, her tears, the soft curve of her waist, and the quiet gasps she made—all of it haunted him. In his dreams, she was in his arms, just like before. She let him have his way and drown in her. Her breath wrapped around him, lingering as if she'd never left. But when he woke up, there was no one beside him. Nathan instinctively reached out, only to touch the cold, empty sheets. A hollow ache spread through his chest, like something vital had been ripped away from him. Suddenly, his phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He answered, and his friend's voice came through the line. "Nate, everything's set for the party. Evie's been notified too. When are you getting here?" Nathan rubbed his temples. His voice was hoarse as he replied, "I'll be there soon." After hanging up, he got up and headed to the bathroom. He let cold water pour over his head, trying to wash away the heat of his lingering dreams. But no matter how hard he tri