en's

oft-a sharp pang tightened in my chest. But then he leaned in

I was familiar with, but right now, it was consuming me, hea

was

e I was watching.

ng the urge to storm over and pull

ross the room, her smile faded, re

d, catching my gaze

wing none of their usual warmth-only a defiant c

g at me as if I were the enemy

d that any chance I had was sli

riend's room," murmured Adel behi

plied, my voice steady. I

ess, yes, but she'd u

☆☆☆☆☆☆

rt

ia'

t. It pounded with each step toward Room 2

against the nausea rising

mit. But as I stood at the threshold, I felt th

n the way

met by Jude's familiar scent mixed with s

loor-shirts, pants, fragments

shirt-the one I'd given him, black with silver threading. He'd worn it the night h

ld dread settling as I took caut

im light spilling out. Soft murmurs, whi

through me,

e, head thrown back, eyes closed, revelin

s back, her lips against his n

tnessing their intimacy. My pulse raced, cheeks

und, but something inside me b

dare

room, halting everything. Ju

as he tried to cover himself wit

her shoulders, shrinking awa

tammered, his voice shaky, hollow, t

what, Jude? That I wasn't enough? That you needed... this?" I gestur

held up a hand. I didn't want his

ery late-night text left unanswered, every lo

ery part of me screamin

and unforgiving as I stumbled onto

ain. My feet moved on their own, carrying me far from

ding me, and I froze as

id-a wall of muscle and warmth. I twisted, re

gaze of a man with tattoos alon

sed a cloth to my face, the sc

in, and as my world faded, one fi

s how i