She hadn’t moved from her chair since noon, forcing herself to sit there until she produced something. Anything to silence the flashing cursor she was slowly becoming convinced was mocking her. By the end of the day, her eyes ached and her shoulders felt as though they were permanently hunched over. She stretched as she made her way down to the kitchen, rolling her head back and forth to loosen the stiffness in her neck. The intense day and sleepless night were taking their toll on her. She was exhausted. All she wanted was to crawl into bed. She was so tired she wouldn’t have to worry about falling asleep tonight. But first, she might as well get something in her stomach. She wasn’t hungry, but she couldn’t afford to get sick. But when she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Jess saw Charlie through the sliding glass doors. He was sitting out by the pool, engrossed in a magazine. The faint twinkling lights that lined the outdoor area illuminated his profile, highlighting the sharp cheekbones and square jaw.
