Serena was stretched out on the edge of the bed, scrolling idly through her phone when it began to ring. Simon’s name lit up the screen.

She smiled before she could stop herself and answered. It was the first time he had called since the day she embarked on her trip.

“Hey,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Finally,” Simon replied, his voice warm and familiar. “I was starting to think you forgot about us completely.”

She laughed softly. “That’s not true.”

“It kind of is,” he teased. “The office is boring without you. Meetings drag, coffee tastes worse, and nobody argues with me anymore.”

Serena...