Monday mornings werenât supposed to feel this good. But as I stepped into the school courtyard, the crisp morning air and the warmth of the sun on my skin made it feel likeâfor onceâthis week might not completely suck. Because for once, the weight of the world wasnât pressing down on my shoulders. The weekend had beenâĶ nice. Good, even.Until it wasnât.Because there, right near the entrance of the main building, was Ashley.Ashley, TheoâsâĶ well, I didnât actually know what she was to Theo. But she was definitely something. Something stunning, something confident, something infuriatingly attached to himâliterally, if the way she was holding onto his arm was anything to go by.And just like that, all the work Iâd done over the weekend, the balance Iâd built in my mind, came crumbling down with her very presence.It was laughable, really. She didnât even live around here, let alone go to our school, which meant whatever she was saying to Theo could have easily been a text. But instead,
The soft glow of early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting streaks of gold across the bed. The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of the sheets and the rhythmic sound of his breathing. I wasnât sure how long Iâd been awake, but it had been long enough to justâĶwatch him.Theo.His head rested on my lap, his golden hair catching the light, turning almost ethereal. The faint rise and fall of his chest, the slow flutter of his lashes as he dreamedâit was the calmest Iâd ever seen him. A stark contrast to the restless way he had slept last night.His legs were tangled with mine, his body warm against me, like he had unconsciously sought me out even in sleep. Every now and then, he shifted slightly, rubbing against me as if searching for somethingâlike a cat craving attention. A part of me wondered if he would stay this way forever if I didnât move.It wasnât the first time Iâd wondered what he was dreaming of.I wished I could see into his mind, unravel whate
The drive to Theoâs place was quiet. Not awkwardâjust filled with the kind of silence that said everything words couldnât. Cole didnât push, and I was grateful for that.By the time we arrived, the house was dimly lit, its towering structure standing against the night sky like something out of a painting. Theo answered the door surprisingly fast, as if heâd been waiting for something. Or someone.His damp hair clung to his forehead, the dark strands curling slightly at the ends. He wore a simple black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, a look so effortlessly casual that it was unfair. His eyes flickered over me, a crease forming between his brows.âWhat happened?â Theo asked, his voice sharp with concern.I blinked. âNothing.âHe didnât look convinced.Cole leaned against the doorway, sipping from a bottle of soda like he was watching a rom-com unfold. âShe just really wanted to see you,â he drawled, winking at me.I felt my face heat. âThatâs notâââDonât scare her off, Cole,â Theo muttere
I spent the entire day trying not to think about what happened last night. It was a pointless effort. My mind kept circling back to itâevery word, every expression, the way Theo looked at me, the way I walked away from him. The way he let me. It was a mess, and I hated how much I couldnât stop thinking about it.I stared at my phone screen, ignoring the text from Hailey asking about last night. She was probably expecting a play-by-play, but I didnât know how to answer. I still didnât know what to feel.Then, there was a knock at my door, and I knew instantly who it was. Hailey, of course. I opened it, and she waltzed in like she owned the place.âSpill,â she demanded. âSo, who are we shipping you with now? Jin or Theo?âI raised an eyebrow. âIâm glad my âlove lifeâ is so amusing to you.âShe just shrugged, her eyes dancing with mischief. âHey, at least youâre giving me content. So, what happened last night?âI'm telling you, she has a talent for sniffing out drama like a bloodhound.â
I barely have the chance to breathe before Hailey starts her interrogation.âSoâĶâ she started, dragging out the word as we walked out of Jinâs apartment building. âYou and Jin, huh?âI sighed. âDonât start.ââOh, Iâve already started,â she says, grinning. âThat man literally lifted you up and twirled you around like you were in a rom-com. And you let him! Which means something.ââI was just being friendly,â I muttered, staring straight ahead.âRight, and Iâm the Queen of England.â Hailey smirked. âYou shouldâve seen your face when you saw him, Cora. You practically lit up.âI scoffed. âI did not.ââDid too,â she sang. Then, in a more dramatic voice, she clutches her chest. ââOh Jin, youâre back! Your hair! Your smile! I feel whole again!ââI shoved her lightly. âShut up.âShe laughed but didn't let up. âSo, are you gonna tell me how you feel about him? Or are we pretending this doesnât exist?âI hesitated. Because the truth isâĶ I donât know. Seeing Jin again did make me happy. And hea
Chapter 51His lips brush against mine, soft at first. Almost hesitant.Then, like something clicking into place, the hesitation disappears. His fingers tilt my chin, deepening the kiss, pulling me closerâso close I can feel the warmth radiating off him, wrapping around me like a second skin.My heart pounds in sync with his. I can feel it.I can taste it.Theo.I donât want it to end. I want to stay here forever.A harsh beam of sunlight pierces through my window, dragging me out of the dream like a riptide. My eyes snap open, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I stare up at the ceiling, disoriented.For a few blissful seconds, Iâm still there. In the guest room. In his arms.And then reality comes crashing down.The room around me is cold, empty. My bed untouched on one side. My phone sits on the nightstand, screen dark and silent.No messages.No missed calls.Nothing.I exhale, forcing myself to sit up even as a sinking feeling settles in my chest. Itâs been days since that nigh