LOGINI rolled from my back onto my side, eyes slowly parting open as my hand reached for the phone beside me on the bed. My room was still dim at 6 a.m., faint dawn light barely touching the windows. I tapped the screen awake. The glow lit up my face. I squinted, heart lifting with fragile hope as I scrolled through notifications, inboxes, the school’s social pages, news apps— anything that might say my car had been found.Nothing. No messages. No updates. Just silence.I dropped the phone onto the mattress with a soft thud and rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. My chest rose and fell slowly beneath the blanket. For a few seconds I just breathed in the quiet, eyes tracing the faint shadows above. A quiet breath escaped me. How do I tell Tony? The thought spiraled, tightening my stomach.I shut my eyes briefly, then opened them again with another sigh. Pushing the blanket off, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and rose to my feet. I padded quietly to Liam’s crib. He
Without a word, she extended her arm, my bedroom key glinting in her palm."Liam is asleep. I’ll be back tomorrow.""Thank you," I whispered, taking the cold metal from her fingers.Maggie didn't say anymore words.She brushed past my shoulder, her coat rustling as she stepped out onto the porch before I could utter another apology.I whirled my head around, watching over my shoulder as her rigid silhouette marched down the driveway, climbed into the very cab I had just vacated, and vanished down the street.The car's headlights swept across the glass facade of the penthouse as it turned the corner, plunging the front yard back into shadow.I let out a long, ragged breath, turned back around, and quietly clicked the front door shut.As I crossed the expansive, minimalist living room, my eyes locked onto Lily.She was lounging on one of the plush white couches.The moment our eyes met, a sharp smirk spread across her lips.I immediately rolled my eyes and looked away.I had absolutely
Moments later, the soft electronic chime of the ride-share notification vibrated against my cupped right palm, pulling my eyes downward.I held the phone over my lap, the screen illuminating my pale face in the dim library waiting room.Your driver has arrived.A hollow, heavy breath escaped me.It did absolutely nothing to ease the sharp, aching knot tightening deep in my lower belly.The very last thread of hope— the fragile delusion that maybe, just maybe, my car would be recovered before I had to leave— evaporated into thin air.I pushed myself up from the plastic chair.At the sudden movement, the eyes of the two campus security officers seated across the room flickered sharply toward me.My gaze shifted between them."I'm leaving. I have to go home."The first officer gave a solemn nod.The second leaned forward, hands resting on his knees."I know you're stressed, but the school is doing everything we can to recover your vehicle as we speak and bring the thief to justice. I’ll
My heart began to beat a frantic rhythm against my ribs.I started to walk slowly through the wide lot, my eyes sweeping across every single SUV. My thumb pressed steadily down on the lock button of my key fob, so it would chime to life or flash its lights if I passed it without noticing.It never did.The faster I moved through the rows of parked cars, checking them one by one, the harder my heart hammered.I circled the entire parking lot three agonizing times before the terrifying reality finally dawned on me:My car had been moved.Maybe stolen.My legs felt heavy, dragging like lead weights as I turned and stumbled back toward the library entrance where two campus security officers were stationed."Excuse me," I said as I reached them.My voice was shaking violently, and I gestured weakly toward the lot."Does it... does it happen that tow trucks come into the parking lot and tow vehicles away?"“What do you mean, tow trucks coming into the parking lot and towing vehicles away?”
The restroom door clicked shut behind me, the sound muffled by the heavy corridor walls.Walking down the narrow hallway, I stepped back into the vast open space of the library’s third floor, into aisles of towering bookshelves. I moved through the rows, slipping past occupied and empty reading tables, my rubber-soled shoes silent against the polished floor.Reaching our table, I slid back into my wooden seat. Mary’s gaze flickered up from her notebook, her eyes tracking my movement for a brief second before she plunged back into her work.I opened my laptop, pulling up my digital study materials right where I had left off, my eyes locking onto the glowing screen.Not long after, a heavy shadow stretched across the glossy wood of the table.Someone was approaching.My eyes flickered toward the figure, then snapped right back to my screen. In a tenth of a second, I leaned closer to Mary."Psst," I called silently, trying to catch her attention without making a sound.Her head lifted fr
“I-I…” He stammered softly, pausing, then continued with a breath. “I’m just gonna go straight to the point. I find you very attractive. Is there by any chance you’re single?”The question caught me off guard. I tried to keep my face neutral, but my eyes betrayed me as I glanced toward Mary. She met my gaze with an amused smile before I shifted my attention back to Pete. “I’m sorry, but I’m not single.”“You’re not?” Mary’s voice cut in immediately. She leaned back in her seat, one eyebrow raised in surprise, lips parted.“I’m not,” I laughed lightly, my gaze shifting awkwardly between them before settling on Pete again.“Okay,” Pete nodded slowly, offering a gentle, understanding smile. “Take it as a compliment. You’re very beautiful.”“Thank you,” I smiled back politely.He turned and walked away. As soon as he was out of earshot, I spun toward Mary, voice lowering to a whisper. “Why would you say that?”“Say what?” She shrugged lightly, innocent expression on her face.“That I’m si
TONY.Two Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.8:00 AM.Tony's eyes slowly opened.For a few silent seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling above him.The room was washed in the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the thin curtains that covered the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bed
Moments Later.We pulled into the labor and delivery parking lot.The tires slowed, rolled, then stopped completely.The engine cut off.For a second, everything went quiet except my breathing.Tony turned toward me. “Are you okay?”I nodded quickly, too focused on the contraction tightening throug
AVA.A Week and Some Days Later.The Glass Penthouse.6:15 PM.I rolled slowly from my left side onto my back, then onto my right, trying to get comfortable. The ache that had been living in my lower back and belly all day refused to leave.A slow breath slipped past my lips.I shifted again, caref
Hours Later.Lily’s Chevrolet Colorado rolled down the quiet road leading to the Glass Penthouse on her way home.The woods stretched endlessly on both sides of the road.The evening sun filtered through the trees, scattering patches of gold across the asphalt.Her fingers rested lazily on the stee







