Ricky Lewis held Gale Summer tight as they fell into a deep sleep... He had no idea how long he slept until he vaguely felt her leave his embrace, and in that haze, felt her tugging the quilt over him.
Suddenly, one side of his body felt empty. He opened his eyes to the emerging dawn, and the sky outside the window was already streaked with rosy clouds.
He hesitated briefly before getting up.
The room felt so empty with just him in it; her absence made the space feel so hollow all at once.
He turned his head to glance at the messy bed, where the red bed sheet bore traces of last night's adulterous exploits—
It wasn't a dream. Last night, they had indeed slept in this bed, willingly and undisturbed by the world.
He pushed open the floor-to-ceiling windows, exposing his unclothed body to the cool, early morning air and the damp breeze from the mountains.
He returned to put on his clothes, then stepped out onto the balcony and Ricky Lewis bent over to look down.
