An Unexpected Invitation

By Wednesday, I had established a routine.

Classes in the morning.

Library in the afternoon.

Coffee with Mia whenever we could escape our assignments.

And, despite my best efforts, occasional encounters with the Blackwood twins.

I told myself I wasn’t looking for them.

I wasn’t.

It just seemed that wherever I went, one of them happened to be there.

The student café.

The library.

The courtyard outside my lecture hall.

It was becoming slightly ridiculous.

“You know they’re doing it on purpose, right?”

Mia stirred her coffee while watching me.

“Doing what?”

“Appearing everywhere.”

I laughed.

“You sound paranoid.”

“I’m observant.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“Also true.”

I closed my notebook.

“I haven’t even spoken to them today.”

Mia raised an eyebrow.

“Give it five minutes.”

Three minutes later, a familiar voice came from behind me.

“Aria.”

I slowly closed my eyes.

Mia looked delighted.

“I told you.”

I turned.

Kian stood behind us, holding two books beneath one arm.

“How do you keep finding me?”

He smiled.

“Maybe you’re the one finding me.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t even know where you live.”

Mia covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

Kian looked amused.

“Fair enough.”

His gaze moved to the empty chair beside me.

“Can I sit?”

Mia immediately looked at me.

I knew that expression.

She wanted the answer to be yes.

I sighed.

“Sure.”

Kian sat down.

For a few moments, he said nothing.

That was unusual.

“You look serious,” I said.

“I am.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Probably.”

I laughed.

He smiled.

Then he placed one of the books on the table.

“Do you have plans Friday night?”

I looked at him.

“No.”

“Good.”

He said it so casually that I almost missed what came next.

“Come to dinner with us.”

I blinked.

“Us?”

“Kael and me.”

Mia’s eyes widened.

I ignored her.

“Why?”

“Because we invited you.”

“That’s not a reason.”

Kian leaned back in his chair.

“Fine. Because I’d like to get to know you.”

I wasn’t expecting such a direct answer.

My smile faded slightly.

“Why?”

He looked at me for a moment.

“I don’t know yet.”

That answer was honest enough to catch me off guard.

Before I could respond, Kael appeared beside him.

“You’ve asked her already?”

Kian nodded.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“She hasn’t answered.”

Kael looked at me.

“You don’t have to come.”

Something about the way he said it made me curious.

“Where?”

“Our house.”

Mia nearly dropped her coffee.

I glanced at her.

She mouthed, Don’t.

I turned back to the twins.

“Your house?”

Kael nodded.

“My parents are hosting dinner.”

“So this isn’t really a date.”

Kian smiled.

“Who said anything about a date?”

I felt my cheeks warm.

“I was just asking.”

“Of course you were.”

I gave him a warning look.

He laughed.

Kael, however, was watching me carefully.

“You can say no.”

I considered it.

I should say no.

I barely knew them.

Going to dinner at their family home sounded like the beginning of a terrible decision.

But there was something about the invitation that felt sincere.

And, if I was honest with myself, I wanted to know more about them.

“Fine.”

Kian smiled.

“Fine?”

“I’ll come.”

“Excellent.”

Mia stared at me as though I’d just announced that I was joining a cult.

Kian stood.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“I can get there myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why—”

“Because I want to.”

Before I could argue, he walked away.

I looked at Kael.

He hadn’t moved.

“Is he always like that?”

“Unfortunately.”

I smiled.

“You’re not exactly denying it.”

“He enjoys getting his way.”

“And you?”

Kael’s eyes met mine.

“I usually do.”

There was something about the confidence in his voice that made my stomach flutter.

I quickly looked away.

“See you Friday.”

He nodded.

“Friday.”

Then he left.

Mia waited until he was gone.

“You’re going.”

“Yes.”

“To their house.”

“Yes.”

“To meet their family.”

I looked at her.

“You’re making it sound worse than it is.”

“Aria.”

“What?”

“You’ve known them for three days.”

“I know.”

“And you’re already going to dinner at their house.”

“I know.”

Mia sighed.

“I hate that this is probably going to be entertaining.”

I laughed.

“So do I.”

But as I packed my things that afternoon, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Friday night was going to change something.

I just didn’t know what.

⸻

Friday arrived faster than I expected.

At six forty-five, I stood in front of my mirror wondering why I’d spent twenty minutes deciding what to wear.

It wasn’t a date.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

I chose a simple black dress and small silver earrings my mother had given me years ago.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

For a moment, I wondered what she would think of me now.

Then someone knocked.

I opened the door.

Kian stood outside.

He wore a dark suit without a tie, his hair slightly messy in a way that looked deliberate.

He looked at me.

And stopped.

“What?”

He blinked.

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you staring?”

“I’m reconsidering my decision to bring you.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because now everyone is going to stare at you.”

I couldn’t tell if he was joking.

Then his expression softened.

“You look beautiful.”

My cheeks warmed.

“Thank you.”

He stepped aside.

“Ready?”

I grabbed my purse.

“Ready.”

As we walked toward the car, I glanced back at the dormitory.

I didn’t know it yet, but somewhere beyond the university gates was a world I knew nothing about.

And tonight, I was taking my first step toward it.

Not because I knew what waited for me.

But because, for the first time in a long time, I was curious about what might happen next.