CHAPTER 98: EMMA

The sunlight filtering through the curtains feels like it's piercing directly into my skull. My head is pounding, and my mouth is dry as if I've been chewing on cotton all night. I groan, turning over in bed, and wince at the harsh light assaulting my eyes. I should've closed the blinds last night, but then again, I hadn't exactly been in a state to think about that.

Last night…

Fragments of the evening start to trickle back into my consciousness. Rob's sassy commentary, the laughter, the neon lights of the rooftop bar, and the endless rounds of drinks. The more I remember, the worse I feel, but it's not just the hangover. There's something else. Something nagging at the edge of my memory, something I did… something stupid.

I fumble for my phone on the nightstand, my fingers trembling slightly as I unlock the screen. The usual notifications greet me, a few messages from Rob and the others, but then I see it—a text from Liam.

Liam: Good morning, sunshine. You don't remember, do you?

My