Chapter 62

Daphne

I sat down quietly in the restaurant, slowly sipping the orange juice I had ordered.

My eyes kept drifting to the door. Every time it opened, my shoulders tensed before I could stop myself.

It had been a week since Zach left.

Seven sleepless nights. Seven days of constant unease that no amount of distraction could silence.

I was scared someone would harm me. It felt as if an invisible shield had been ripped away—leaving my skin exposed to something cold and watchful.

I hate this. I hate the fact that I am relying on him. This wasn’t what I envisioned when I said I wanted to stay away from him. This wasn’t the plan.

I was a shadow of myself having sleepless nights. I don’t want it to be this way. I don’t want to think of him as my protector, but I couldn’t help myself. I am messed up.

I dropped the almost empty glass on the table and let out a deep breath. I thought it would all go away, the feelings, after a day or two, b