Breaking The Ice Between Us
He just nods once.
“Goodnight, Harper,” he says, voice low.
He leans in, clearly going for a hug.
It’s awkward at first—two people misjudging distance, bumping elbows slightly, both of us overthinking something that shouldn’t be complicated.
Then his arms settle around me.
And something shifts.
The hug lingers a second too long. His hand presses lightly against my back. I can feel the warmth of him through my jacket, the familiar solidity of his chest, the way my body remembers him even when my brain is trying to stay cautious.