LUCA

I woke up the next morning with Veda sprawled across my chest and her hair tickling my nose. Even in sleep, I held her tight against me, my arms wrapped around her in a vice-like hold and one leg thrown over hers. Glancing over at my phone on the nightstand, I was surprised at the time. For the first time in weeks, I'd slept completely through the night.

She sighed when I loosened my hold and rubbed my palms against the soft skin of her back, but didn't wake. So I gently moved her off of me and pulled the blankets up around her waist before I got out...