Hope
I close the hotel door behind me as quietly as I can, but it still clicks too loud in the silence.
Tessa's sitting on the edge of the couch, her knees pulled up, her phone clenched in both hands. She looks up the second I enter, and I see the storm in her eyes before she says a word.
“Hope.” She exhales my name like she’s been holding her breath since I left.
“Hey,” I say, offering a weak smile. “Sorry.”
“Where were you?” She’s already on her feet. “Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
I nod, toe off my boots. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She steps closer, eyes scanning my face. “You didn’t answer your phone. You just… vanished. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I just—something came up.”
“Something? Hope, that’s not an answer.”
“I can’t really explain
