A chill ran down my spine as I read the words. The casualness of the café around us faded into an echo, and all I could focus on was the name that had been a ghost in my life for far too long. I didn’t want Gino to see my reaction, so I took a breath and tried to manage the confusion swirling within me.
“Harriet? You okay?” Gino’s voice was laced with concern again, pulling me back to reality. I could see the shadow of worry crossing his features as he sensed my shift.
“Yeah, just... a message from a friend,” I stammered, turning my phone facedown on the counter. I couldn’t bring myself to explain. The last thing I wanted was for him to question me, to sense any thought of Damon’s lingering effect on my life. I desperately wanted to keep this moment between us—a fresh beginning unmarred
