ROMAN'S POV

 "Babe,” the faint voice said.

 At first, I pretended not to hear it. My dream was too nice, too peaceful, the kind that makes you want to glue your eyes shut so you don’t lose a single second of it. I forced my mind to drift back toward whatever fantasy it was creating, but the voice returned, a little louder.

 “Babe.”

 And then the final call came, sharper, firmer, cutting clean through the last pieces of sleep lingering in my head.

 “Roman.”

 That tone alone told me exactly who it was. I let out a long, tired breath and slowly cracked my eyes open. The morning light hit...