POV: Chloe

By evening, Ethan still hadn't returned and I was worried about him. I held my phone, trying repeatedly to get through to him. He's not taking my calls or responding to my messages.

The door clicked shut behind Ethan, and the silence he left behind felt louder than the argument itself.

Tristan's hand found mine before I could turn. His fingers slid between mine, warm and steady, and he tugged me back toward the bed with a gentleness that made my chest ache.

"Don't look at the door, Peaches. Look at me."

I did. I always did.

His eyes were still carrying shadows from the fever, but underneath...