Chapter 18

Orana’s point of view

“Vaughn, stop,” I said, rushing so he could let go of me.

His hand stayed locked around mine, firm as he pulled me through the restaurant, past curious glances and whispers. My heels struggled to keep up with his pace, my free hand trying to pry him loose.

“Vaughn, stop,” I said again, sharper this time, and he didn’t stop.

The doors swung open, and the cool night air hit us. Only then did he let go.

I stumbled a step back, my pulse racing, my hand still tingling where his had been. He stood a few feet away, chest rising and falling as if he’d just run a mile, his jaw tight, shoulders rigid.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. I was also out of breath from trying to stay calm.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

He dragged a hand down his face, eyes closing as he took a slow, measured breath. Another. Like he was forcing something down.

When he looked at me again, it wasn’t the Vaughn I was used to.

There was something raw there, something that made my breath catch.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, like the words had been waiting. “I shouldn’t have been late.”

I blinked, surprised by the shift. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not.” His voice cut in, rough. “You were waiting, and I was fucking late.”

He paced back and forth. I swallowed hard, watching him as if trying to calm down. His hair was messy and looked as though he had just had a bad day.

“It’s okay, Vaughn, we can do it another time,” I forced a smile even though I was disappointed. He told me I was important earlier, so what was more important than me?

“Let me make it up to you?” he asked, coming closer to me, and I chuckled dryly.

“You don’t have to make it up to me,” I said.

“I do,” the way he said it left no room to argue.

I hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. But nothing fancy.”

His brow pulled together slightly. “Orana”

“I just want to stay in,” I added. “There’s a show I’ve been waiting to watch.”

Something in his expression as he looked into my eyes.

“You know I can’t miss it. It’s Thursday today,” I said to him, and he swallowed hard before nodding his head.

“Done, let’s get you inside,” he said, already shrugging off his jacket and draping it over my hands, already gripping it.

**

We ordered food, something simple, and settled in front of the TV. I curled slightly into the couch, pulling a blanket over my legs as the opening credits rolled.

It should’ve felt normal, but it didn’t. I could feel his eyes on me. Even without looking, I could feel them watching me.

. Every time I shifted, every time I laughed softly at something on screen, I felt it.

It should’ve made me uncomfortable, but it didn’t. Instead, I enjoyed it.

If anything, it made my chest feel lighter.

Like he was there.

I glanced at him briefly. He didn’t look away, his eyes roaming over my face.

“Where did you go?” I asked, breaking the silence between scenes.

His expression didn’t change, but I caught the way his shoulders tensed

“Nowhere important.” He shook his head, lowering his head, but I could feel he was hiding something.

I raised a brow, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Must’ve been, if you kept me waiting.”

His jaw shifted, and his gaze flickered away for a second before coming back.

“I was joking,” I added, nudging lightly.

He didn’t smile, but he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his attention fully on me now.

“You’re important to me,” he said.

I stilled, my fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the blanket. For a second, I didn’t know what to do with that, where to put it, how to hold it without it slipping through my hands.

He was close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes searched mine like he was waiting for something.

I froze.

He leaned back slightly, putting space between us.

“I should go,” he muttered, already pushing himself to his feet.

My chest tightened at how fast he pulled away. I shouldn’t feel like that, but I did. I wanted to know what was going through his mind.

He turned toward the door, but stopped before reaching it, his hand hovering near the handle.

“We might need to stay longer,” he said without looking at me. “For the project.”

I frowned slightly, sitting up. “Why?”

He exhaled, shoulders tightening again. “Miles wants us to see it through.” A pause. “And I don’t like that Callahan is still around you.”

I froze. What did he mean?

“If you want, I can organize for you to travel back home. I can handle it with Nehemiah,” he quickly offered before I could linger too much on what he meant.

“I’m staying,” I said, more firmly now. “This is my project.”

He glanced back at me then, studying my face as if he was trying to decide how far to push.

“Did you tell him?” he asked.

My stomach dropped slightly. “Tell him what?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “About Liorah.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

A beat of silence passed.

“He’s not interested in her,” I added. “Not really.”

Vaughn’s expression shifted, something dark flickering behind his eyes before it faded into something else. He gave a small, humorless smile.

“You deserve better than that.”

The words settled heavily between us. I swallowed, then tilted my head slightly, studying him now.

“Who was calling you?” It slipped out before I could stop it.

His shoulders stiffened.

“No one.”

My eyes narrowed slightly. “Vaughn—”

“It’s nothing.” He cut me off; he didn’t look at me when he said it.

And that’s how I knew. He was lying, and whatever it was made him edgy today.

“Good night, Vaughn,” I said, then turned my head towards the TV, pretending that I didn’t see him standing there.

I felt his gaze on me for a minute, then he sighed and walked out.

Fuck. Why was I acting like this? He wasn’t mine. I shouldn’t worry about what happened, but when I saw a woman’s name on the screen earlier, I couldn’t help but get curious.