ログインPAIGE"The sad eyes, the hungry eyes, the patient eyes."Mrs. Chen says it without looking up from the cup she's wiping.I freeze in the doorway of her coffee shop. It's just us. Early morning. The old man isn't in his corner yet. The young couple hasn't arrived."What?"She sets the cup down. Looks at me."You came to ask me something. I'm answering before you ask."I walk to the counter. Slide onto a stool."How do you do that?""Do what?""Know what I'm thinking."She almost smiles. "I'm old, child. I've seen everything. Including three men looking at one woman."I stare at her. "Mrs. Chen—""The sad eyes. That's Haruto. He's been carrying something heavy for years. Grief. Guilt. Loss. He looks at you like you're the only thing keeping him from drowning."My throat tightens."The hungry eyes. That's Marcus. He wants. Not just you. Everything. Love. Family. A future. He looks at you like you're the answer to every question he's ever asked."I grip the edge of the counter."And the p
PAIGEMorning comes slow.Sunlight spills through the windows. No curtains still. Just glass and gold.I'm sandwiched between Marcus and Haruto. Julian is at the foot of the bed, his hand on my ankle.No one moves."Paige."Haruto's voice. Sleepy."Hey.""You're awake.""I'm awake.""Good."He kisses my shoulder. Soft.Marcus shifts beside me. His hand finds my stomach."Too early," he mumbles."It's eight.""Too early."Julian sits up. Rubs his eyes. Grey hair messy. "I'm making coffee.""Make enough for everyone."He almost smiles. "Obviously."---JULIANThe kitchen is quiet.I make coffee. The machine hums. The city wakes up outside."Julian."Paige. In the doorway. Hair messy. Eyes soft."You should be sleeping.""I should be helping.""I have it under control."She walks to me. Leans against the counter."You've been quiet lately.""I'm always quiet.""Quieter than usual."I pour two cups. Hand her one."I've been thinking.""About what?""About this. About us. About how I got h
HARUTOI wake up gasping.The dream is already fading. But I remember the important parts. My father's face. The hospital room. His hand reaching for me.And me. Walking away."Haruto."Paige's voice. Soft. Close.I sit up. My chest is tight. My hands are shaking."Just a dream," I say."You're crying."I touch my face. My cheeks are wet."It was just a dream.""You've been having them every night.""I'm fine.""You're not fine." She sits up. Turns on the lamp. The light is too bright. "Talk to me.""There's nothing to talk about.""Haruto.""I said I'm fine."She stares at me. Those dark eyes. Full of things I don't deserve."Okay," she says. "Okay."She lies back down. Turns off the lamp.I sit in the dark. Alone.---PAIGEHe doesn't sleep for the rest of the night.I pretend to. But I feel every time he moves. Every time he sighs. Every time he reaches for me and pulls back.In the morning, he's gone.The bed is cold. His pillow smells like him.I find him in the living room. Star
HARUTO"Haruto. You're doing it again."Paige's voice. Soft. Concerned.I look up from my phone. She's standing by the bedroom door. Arms crossed."Doing what?""Staring at nothing. Ignoring me. Pulling away.""I'm not pulling away.""You've been quiet for three days. You barely ate dinner last night. You haven't touched me since Monday."I set the phone down. Run my hands through my hair."I'm fine.""You're not fine.""Paige—""Don't." She walks to the bed. Sits across from me. "Don't lie to me. Not about this."I look at her. Those dark eyes. Full of everything I don't deserve."My father's lawyer called.""When?""Yesterday. While you were at work.""What did he want?""He wanted to know if I'd visit. Before he died." My voice cracks. "I said no."Paige's face softens. "Haruto...""I said no, Paige. My father was dying. And I said no.""Why?""Because I was angry. Because I thought I had time. Because I'm a coward."She reaches for my hand. I pull away."Don't.""Don't what?""Don
PAIGESunlight cuts through the windows. No curtains yet. Just glass and gold and the city waking up.I'm the first one awake.Haruto is on his back, one arm thrown over his head. Marcus is curled toward me, his hand on my stomach. Julian is at the edge of the mattress, his back to us, breathing slow.I don't move. Don't want to wake anyone.I just look at them.My three men. My impossible family. My home."Paige."Marcus's voice. Sleepy. Rough."Hey.""You're staring.""I'm allowed."He opens his eyes. Blue. Soft. "What time is it?""Early. Go back to sleep.""Can't. You're thinking too loud."I laugh. Quiet. "I'm not thinking anything.""You're thinking everything. I can feel it."He sits up. Rubs his eyes. Looks around at the boxes, the bare walls, the mattress on the floor."We need curtains," he says."That's what I said.""And a couch.""And a couch.""And plates that match.""And plates that match."He grins. "We're really doing this.""We're really doing this."Haruto stirs. H
PAIGEThree weeks pass.The city thaws. Spring creeps in. Flowers push through cracks in the sidewalk. The world keeps spinning.Haruto laughs more now. Not the hollow laugh from before. The real one. The one that reaches his eyes."You're staring," he says."I'm allowed.""You're going to burn the eggs."I look down. The eggs are smoking."See?" He takes the pan. Slides the eggs onto a plate. "Distracted by my beauty.""Your ego is showing.""My ego is always showing. You're just finally noticing."Marcus walks in. Hair wet. Coffee in hand."Burned eggs again?""She was staring at me.""I was not staring.""You were definitely staring." Marcus kisses my cheek. "Can't blame you. He's pretty.""You're both impossible.""We're both yours." Haruto sets the plate in front of me. "Eat. We have plans today.""We do?""We do." Julian appears in the doorway. Grey eyes. Dark sweater. "We're going apartment hunting."I blink. "Apartment hunting?""For you," Marcus says. "For us. A place togethe
PAIGEThe walk from the restaurant to my apartment is slow.Not because it's far. It's not. Just a few blocks through streets that glow yellow under streetlights. But Haruto holds my hand the whole way, and neither of us wants to rush.
PAIGEHaruto texts me at four.Haruto: Dinner tonight? Just us. A real conversation this time. I'll pick you up at seven.I stare at the message for a full minute. My heart does that thing where it forgets how to beat normally.Me: Okay. Seven.Sadie watches me from the couch. "You're smiling at yo
PAIGEHaruto points a gun at Marcus.Marcus points a gun at Julian.Julian points a gun at Haruto.Three men. Three weapons. Three faces twisted with hate.I stand in the middle, frozen. Can't move. Can't speak. Can't breathe."She's mine." Haruto's voice is cold. Hard. Nothing like the man who kis
PAIGESaturday morning sunlight cuts through my curtains like a blade.I squeeze my eyes shut. Pull the pillow over my head. Breathe.Three more hours of sleep. That's all I need. Just three more—The pillow disappears."Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."Sadie. Of course.I crack one eye open. She'







