Laila stared at him for a long moment, the quiet stretching between them like a held breath. The soft hum of the heater and the muted glow of the Christmas lights suddenly felt too loud, too present, as if the room itself were waiting for her answer. The blanket fort around them, once warm and safe, now felt fragile—like it might collapse under the weight of everything left unsaid.“Okay…” she said finally, her voice careful and measured, the way it always became when she was afraid of what the truth might bring. “Well… did you love her? Or do you?”Jordan didn’t hesitate. He shook his head slowly, decisively. “No,” he said, the word firm but not unkind. “I dated her because she was there—because it was easy, familiar, and because I didn’t want to be alone.” He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “But when it comes to real relationships… the ones that actually matter…”He reached up gently, brushing a strand of hair away from Laila’s face, his touch reverent rather than possessive.
Last Updated : 2026-01-30
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