​The humid night air felt heavy against my skin, a stark contrast to the nervous chill humming through my veins. I stood on the porch of the model home, my running shoes silent on the pristine wood. I’d spent the last hour convincing myself to turn the car around, but then I saw Jamal. ​He was leaning against the railing, his silhouette imposing and solid against the glow of the streetlights. He was a few inches taller th...