"Hannah..." The whisper was barely audible, yet unmistakable. It slid into her ear like a breeze, chilling her skin. "Hannah, wake up."

Hannah jolted awake, her breath shallow and erratic, her skin clammy with sweat. She swallowed hard, her heart racing. Could it be? Was it him?

Her mind whirled as she strained to steady her pulse. The voice was his—deep, warm, hauntingly familiar. But he’s not here. He can't be.

The air around her felt different, thicker, as if his presence lingered just out of reach. She could almost feel his breath on her neck, his hand brushing her shoulder, his warmth pressing against her skin.

She shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Stupid." She wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand. "How the hell could it be him? He's been gone... since 2016."

One Year Ago

"Close your eyes," his voice teased, soft and coaxing.

Hannah smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of his presence, even though her eyes were already shut tight. "My eyes are closed, and you're covering them with your hands."

His fingers were gentle against her skin, a soft caress. She could smell his cologne, that same scent that always made her feel safe, at home.

"Can you at least tell me where we’re going?" she asked, trying to hide the excitement bubbling up inside her.

He paused, then grinned. "Maybe. But if I did, you'd know."

She giggled, a flutter of joy filling her chest as his lips grazed her neck.

"Kai," she murmured, a playful plea. "At least give me a clue."

His laughter was low, almost secretive. "Okay," he said at last. "Open your eyes."

As she blinked away the blur, she found herself standing before the imposing gates of Chicago University. The very place they had always dreamed of. Her heart leaped into her throat.

"Oh my God," she gasped, barely able to catch her breath. "When did you get the time to plan this? Are we really in Chicago? Kai, Jax... WHAT?!" She launched herself into their arms, her joy contagious.

They exchanged a knowing look, exchanging silent grins.

"How did you pull this off?" Hannah asked, her voice breathless with wonder.

Kai chuckled. "We pooled our money for the trip... and…"

"And we got you tickets for the tour," Jax added with a mischievous grin.

"For what?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"For the college tour," they answered in unison, before adding, "And free lunch at McChubbies."

Present Day, 2017

A sharp knock echoed through her apartment. Hannah flinched.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

The muffled reply reached her. "Jax, and my boyfriend."

Hannah groaned inwardly. She wasn’t in the mood for company, especially not with the mess she’d let build up around her—papers scattered, the suspect board half-assembled, books strewn across the floor. If Kai were here, she thought bitterly, I wouldn’t be like this. He’d know what to do.

She rushed to tidy up, but the mess was too much. She couldn’t hide it.

Finally, she opened the door, forcing a smile. "Welcome to my humble abode," she said, her tone strained.

Jax, who had seen her at her best and her worst, didn’t even need to look around to know. He could see the lie behind her smile, feel the coldness in her eyes.

He stepped inside, scanning the chaos. "Hannah," he began carefully, "Steven and I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you're okay." He emphasized the word "okay," like he knew—like he knew something deeper.

Hannah busied herself to try and clean up before she could let Jax say anything, she didn’t need any chastising. Her loss was already enough.

“Make yourself comfortable, I’ll make you a cookie latte Jax,” She turned to Steven, “What type of coffee do you like?”

Steven’s eyes snapped back to hers, she shuddered, why does he have such a cold demeanor. “Umm… I’ll drink black coffee.”

Two Years Ago

"Ready to head out?" Jax’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked over at Kai and nodded.

"Yeah," she said, her voice distant. She caught Kai’s gaze,it was cold and distant. He looked down at his phone, but before they could say anything more, Kai stood up.

"I need to use the bathroom first," he muttered before disappearing back into the college.

A few hours later, the text came. Hannah stared at her phone.

"Kai’s going back with his friends. He just texted me."

Jax frowned. "After two and a half hours? Doesn't that bug you?"

She shrugged. "Not really. I’m used to it." But inside, she felt something stir. Something that hadn’t quite settled. She wanted to ask why, but the words wouldn’t come. "Can we go home now?"

She didn’t tell Jax what was really bothering her—why she hated when Kai did this. Why did she feel the distance growing, even when he was right there.