02

He was breathtaking — the kind of man that made you forget how to breathe. Broad shoulders filled the cramped restroom, making it feel even smaller. His black shirt stretched across his chest, muscles straining beneath the fabric. His jeans clung to him in a way that screamed gym dedication.

His chocolate-brown hair fell in soft waves, and those dark blue eyes locked onto mine with unsettling intensity. His sharp jawline looked like it could cut glass, and those lips... full, inviting, dangerously tempting.

I caught myself leaning in — actually leaning in — like some idiot waiting to be kissed.

What the hell am I doing?

This stranger — someone I’d barely met — stood way too close, one hand resting on my waist like we were old lovers. My stomach twisted, panic rising.

“Too close,” I muttered, planting my hands on his chest and shoving him back — not too hard, but enough to make a point.

He blinked, surprised, but didn’t move far. “Easy,” he said, voice low and steady. “I thought you wanted—”

“I don’t,” I cut in, stepping sideways. “Whatever you’re thinking? Just... no.”

Then I bolted out of the restroom, my face burning.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” I muttered, sinking into my seat. My hands flew to my face, desperate to cool the heat creeping up my cheeks.

What was that?

Hours ago, I’d been crying over Noah’s betrayal. Now I was... what? Getting tangled up with some random guy? I squeezed my eyes shut, muttering curses under my breath.

A quiet cough snapped me back to reality.

I opened my eyes — and there he was, standing by my seat, watching me.

“You again?” I muttered.

Without a word, he slid into the seat beside me.

“What’s your name?” His voice was calm — too calm — like he wasn’t leaving without an answer.

“I’m not interested,” I said flatly.

“Yeah?” His mouth tugged upward, like he didn’t believe me. “Because back there, it looked like you were interested.”

“You were standing on top of me.”

He chuckled, the sound low and rich. “If I remember right, you were the one leaning in.”

I turned my face toward the window, gripping my armrest tightly. “Can you just... not?”

“Look, I’m not trying to be a creep,” he said. “I just thought... I don’t know, maybe you needed someone to talk to.”

I laughed dryly. “Trust me, I don’t.”

“Right,” he said, dragging out the word. “Because running from a guy and muttering ‘Oh my God’ like you’ve seen a ghost just screams emotional stability.”

I shot him a glare. “Are you always this charming?”

“Only when I meet someone who slams me into a wall and bolts like they’re being chased.”

I couldn’t help it — I smiled. Just a little.

“I’m Aiden,” he said, extending his hand.

I didn’t take it. “Good for you.”

He grinned like my sarcasm amused him. “Fine. Stay mysterious.” He leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head, like he’d already won some invisible game.

---

Hours Later

I woke to the crackle of the plane’s intercom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be landing in approximately forty-five minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and ensure your belongings are secured.”

I blinked, still groggy. The warmth pressed against me wasn’t my blanket — it was Aiden. His head rested on my shoulder, his arm loosely curled around my waist.

Seriously?

Carefully, I shifted his arm off me and sat up.

It was just a dream, I told myself. A weird dream. But it felt too real — the heat of his body, the steady rhythm of his breathing...

I ran a hand through my hair, careful not to wake him.

Yet somehow, his head found my shoulder again.

I gave his arm a nudge. “Hey.”

Nothing.

I shoved harder. “Aiden.”

He mumbled something, barely stirring.

“Aiden!”

His eyes flickered open, still hazy with sleep. Slowly, he peeled himself off me, blinking like he wasn’t quite sure where he was.

“You’ve got boundary issues,” I muttered.

He smirked, voice still rough from sleep. “You didn’t seem to mind.”

“Yeah, well... I do now.”

I grabbed my carry-on from the overhead compartment. It snagged, nearly toppling me backward before I finally wrenched it free. Without another word, I bolted off the plane.

---

I reached my apartment without trouble, dumped my bag at the door, and went looking for Noelle. She wasn’t home yet.

Relieved, I dragged myself to the bathroom, desperate for a shower. The hot water poured over me, washing away the exhaustion. My muscles relaxed, and for a moment, it felt like the stress of the last few days was melting away.

Wrapped in Noelle’s robe, I stepped out — and froze.

Noelle was kissing some guy right in the doorway.

He spun her around just as her eyes locked on mine.

“Jesus, Kat!” she gasped, shoving the guy back. “What are you doing here?”

I didn’t answer. I just stood there, watching them silently.

Noelle turned to the stranger. “We’ll have this some other time, I’m sorry.”

She ushered him out and closed the door.

I folded my arms, still staring at her.

“The last time I checked,” she huffed, “you were dragging your luggage into your boyfriend’s apartment. Now you’re back here like a ghost — in my favorite bathrobe.”

I shook my head and let out a tired sigh. “I’m exhausted, Noelle. Can we talk about this later?”

She opened her mouth like she wanted to argue but then sighed and nodded. “Fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook.”

Without another word, I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over me.

I heard her muttering something under her breath before stomping down the hall.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind spinning.

How was I supposed to explain this? That I’d walked in on my boyfriend in bed with his own sister — that I’d grabbed the first flight out just to escape that twisted mess?

I tried to think of a simpler explanation, something easy to say. But nothing came to mind.

I rolled to the other side of the bed, clutching the pillow tightly as I gave in to sleep.