ВойтиChapter 129 — The Moment I Stop RunningOllie's POVThe lights died so quickly that my breath caught in my throat. I gripped Ryder’s arm harder, listening for anything beyond the pounding in my ears. He pulled me close, guiding me toward the bedroom. His steps were steady, but there was tension in his muscles, sharp and ready. I stayed close behind him, heart racing.When he shut the door, the room fell quiet. The faint glow from outside crept through the curtains, barely enough to see his silhouette in front of me. He stood still, listening. I pressed my hand against his back, grounding myself. I could feel the slow rise and fall of his breath beneath my palm, controlled, calm, familiar.I did not know when it happened. When fear started mixing with something softer. When the sight of him made my chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with danger. But standing in the dark with him now, realizing someone wanted him hurt, realizing someone wanted me gone, I felt it clearly.I lo
Chapter 128 — The Things I Should Not WantRyder's POV The door handle shook again. I kept Ollie behind me and waited. I listened for the smallest sound, hoping to catch a voice, a breath, a step, anything that would tell me who waited on the other side. The handle finally stilled, silence settling heavy over the apartment. I stayed still until the quiet stretched long enough to be suspicious. When I was sure no one lingered, I stepped back and locked every bolt.Ollie stood close, holding his breath. His eyes were wide, frightened, searching my face for answers I could not give yet. I touched his shoulder gently.“It is fine for now,” I said. “Stay close to me.”He nodded, slow and uncertain. I hated that I had dragged him into danger he did not ask for. I hated even more that I could not bring myself to let him go. No matter how close the threat came, my instinct was to pull him nearer, to shield him with my body if I had to. I guided him away from the door and into the living room
Chapter 127 — What My Heart Refuses To HideOllie's POVI woke up tired, my mind heavy with everything that happened the night before. Ryder’s confession, the way he said I mattered, the way our lips touched, all of it lingered in my chest like a weight I did not know how to carry. I lay still for a few minutes, letting the quiet settle around me. The apartment felt calm, too calm, and the part of me that had learned to be afraid of silence started to twist.I pushed the blanket aside and sat up. My heart thudded unevenly. I kept replaying the way he kissed me, the gentle pressure, the heat that made my skin tremble, the way he did not push, the way he let me choose the pace. I knew that should have comforted me, yet it only made everything more confusing. How could someone like him look at someone like me that way. How could I face him without my voice cracking or my hands shaking.I rubbed my face and stood. I needed something to do, anything to stop my thoughts from spiraling. I wa
Chapter 126 — The Shift I Didn’t See ComingOllie’s POVI could tell something was wrong from the moment Ryder stepped into the apartment. His movements were too sharp, his eyes too restless, his breathing off rhythm. He didn’t look at me right away, which was the first thing that tightened my chest. He always looked at me, even when he didn’t want me to see what he was thinking. Tonight, he avoided it.I closed the book I had been pretending to read and watched him shrug off his jacket. It landed on the chair instead of the hook like he didn’t care where anything went anymore. That made my heart beat faster. Ryder didn’t do careless.He finally lifted his head. Our eyes met. Something dark flickered in his.“What happened?” I asked.He shook his head once, short and tired. “Later.”I hated that answer. I hated the weight behind it even more. I stood, walked toward him, forcing him to face me. His jaw tightened as if he wanted to push the truth back down before it could escape.“You a
Chapter 125 – When the Quiet BreaksOllie’s POVI woke up to silence.Not the soft kind that makes mornings feel gentle, but the heavy kind that presses against your ears and warns you something is wrong. My eyes opened slowly, and for a moment I didn't understand why I felt uneasy.Then it hit me.Ryder wasn’t beside me.I sat up quickly. The blanket slipped down my shoulders, and a cold draft brushed my skin. I looked around the room, expecting to see him leaning against the wall or sitting in the chair by the window like he sometimes did.But the room was empty.My heart started pounding. I rubbed my eyes, hoping maybe he had just stepped into the bathroom, but the door stood open, lights off, towel untouched. I pushed the blanket aside and stood up on shaky legs.“Ryder?”My voice was quiet, but it sounded too loud in the empty space.No answer.A tightness formed in my chest. I tried to breathe past it, but the memory of the last time I woke up alone hit me too fast. The hands gr
Chapter 124 – The Weight of Loving HimRyder’s POVThe moment Ollie’s lips left mine, everything inside me shifted. I sat there on the edge of the couch, barely breathing, barely thinking, still tasting him on my mouth. My pulse wouldn’t slow, my chest felt tight, and the room seemed too small for everything I was holding inside. I knew what had just happened would change everything, no matter how much I tried to pretend I still had control.Ollie didn’t say anything afterward. He pulled back with wide eyes, cheeks flushed, hands trembling just slightly, then he whispered a small, fragile, “Goodnight,” before walking into the bedroom. He didn’t slam the door. He didn’t hide. He just looked confused, overwhelmed, scared, and somehow hopeful all at once.I stayed in the living room, staring at the door he had closed. My hands were still warm from touching him. My thoughts wouldn’t settle. For years I had forced myself to stay detached, to guard my emotions, to keep everyone at arm’s len







