Chapter 19: ‘Does he even care at all?’

Pamela’s Point of View

The credits roll on the screen, but I’m not really paying attention. My mind has been elsewhere the whole time—on my phone, on Rowan, on what happened last night. The buzzing energy in my stomach won’t go away, that strange mixture of nerves and anticipation building up, twisting tighter with every passing minute.

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. With shaky hands, I unlock my phone and see it—Rowan’s message.

[I’m waiting outside your sister’s apartment.]

My breath catches in my throat. He’s here?

I stare at the message for a moment, trying to process it, my pulse quickening with both excitement and nervousness. Without thinking, I jump up from the couch, almost knocking over the popcorn bowl in my haste.

“I’ll be right back!” I stammer, barely registering Joana’s confused expression as I rush toward the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” Joana calls after me, but I’m already out the door, my heart racing as I sprint down the stairs of her apartment building. W