Jack’s POV
The faint hum of the motel heater and the soft sound of Ellie’s tablet filled the room as I stared out the window, my thoughts a tangled mess. The snow had stopped, leaving the world outside blanketed in white, but inside, it was far from calm. Last night’s almost-kiss with Rose lingered like a ghost, haunting my every move.
I could still see the way her eyes had softened, how her lips had parted just slightly, like she was daring me to close the space between us. And God, I’d wanted to. But instead of leaning in, I’d walked away, because that’s what I do, isn’t it? Run when things get messy.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, snapping me out of my thoughts. I didn’t need to check to know who it was—Mason had been blowing up my phone since last night, and I’d ignored every ca
