304
Not just dim.
Dark.
019
No studio lights on. No front desk glow. No figure in the lobby slipping on her hoodie or tying her shoes.
And Penny’s not outside.
She always waits outside if I’m late. Sits on the low brick ledge with her headphones in, watching the sky, or stretching her legs with that dancer’s instinct that never really turns off. But she’s not there now.
My jaw tightens
I sit back in my seat for a second, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other dropping to the gearshift.
Then I look back at the building.
Something’s wrong.
The wrong kind of stillness. The kind that sets every nerve in my body on alert.
I cut the engine, grab my phone, and step out into the cold.
Something is off.
And I’m going to find out what the hell it is.
I open her contact and tap her name.
It rings once. Twice.
Three times.
Straight to voicemail.
I hang up and call again. Same result. No answer.
A slow burn crawls up my spine, inch by inch. My training has a word for this feeling. Precursor. It’s what happens when something’s off before it goes off. Like the second before a mine clicks under your boot. Before the first shot is fired.
I shove my phone into my pocket and cross the street toward the studio. The building looms quiet, windows dark, doors shut tight.
I try the front handle
–
locked.
What the hell?
It’s never locked at this time. Even when Penny’s done, there are usually girls packing up inside, instructors yelling corrections down hallways, heels clicking on tile. Music echoing from practice rooms. The hum of life.
But tonight?
2/3
Falling for my boyfriend’s Navy brother
Chapter
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
