The morning sun felt too bright.
Savannah stirred first, blinking against the light pouring through the living room windows.
She was still on the couch.
Still naked.
And Jace was gone.
Her stomach twisted.
The cushion beside her was cold. No note. No trace. Just the ghost of last night all over her skin.
She sat up slowly, grabbing the blanket off the back of the couch and pulling it around herself. Every muscle ached - in a good way, a God-he-wrecked-me way - but her chest felt tight.
Empty.
She should've known he'd run.
That's what he always did.
Before she could spiral too deep, the front door opened.
Jace stepped in, damp from the shower, a fresh shirt clinging to his chest, coffee in one hand.
He froze when he saw her sitting up.
They stared at each other for a long, breathless second.
Then he looked away.
"I brought you one," he said gruffly, setting the second cup down on the table.
She didn't move. "So, this is the part where you pretend it didn't happen?"
His jaw tensed. "No."
"Could've fooled me."
"I just…" He ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't know what to say."
"Try something," she snapped. "Because after last night, silence feels a hell of a lot like regret."
His eyes finally met hers.
And they looked tired. Haunted.
"I don't regret you," he said quietly. "I regret what it means."
Savannah swallowed hard. "What does it mean?"
"It means I crossed a line I can't uncross. That I betrayed your brother's trust. That I finally gave in to something I've wanted for years - and now I don't know how to protect either of us from the fallout."
She stood, blanket still clutched to her chest. "I don't want you to protect me. I want you to choose me."
His silence was answer enough.
She nodded, lips trembling.
"Thanks for the coffee."
And then she walked past him - head held high, heart splintering with every step.
Meanwhile…
Noah's voice echoed from the hallway. "Savannah? Jace? You guys up?"
Jace's spine stiffened.
Savannah paused halfway down the hall, wrapped in that damn blanket like armor.
One glance back.
And then she disappeared into her room.
Jace stayed frozen in the kitchen, heart hammering, guilt clawing up his throat.
Because last night, he gave in to the fire.
And now?
He was the one getting burned.