Breakfast felt louder than usual.
Everyone was talking — Aiden joking about the trip, Cassian complaining about the heat, Selene scrolling through her phone — but Amara barely heard any of it.
Her heart was still racing.
Adrian was sitting right across from her.
Alive. Home. Real.
And every few seconds, she felt his eyes on her.
She kept her gaze glued to her plate, pretending to eat, pretending to be normal, pretending her entire world hadn't flipped the moment he walked in.
Aiden nudged Adrian. "Bro, you look dead. Didn't you sleep last night?"
Amara froze.
Adrian didn't even blink. "I slept fine."
Her face heated instantly.
He was lying. He had been in her bed. Holding her. Telling her to sleep.
She swallowed hard and looked away.
Aiden shrugged and kept talking, completely unaware.
But Adrian… Adrian smirked.
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes drifting to her again — slow, deliberate, knowing.
Amara quickly looked down, pretending to adjust her spoon.
Her heart wouldn't calm down.
After breakfast, everyone scattered — Aiden went to shower, Cassian went outside, Lyra disappeared upstairs.
Amara stood up to take her plate to the sink.
As she turned—
A hand gently wrapped around her wrist.
Her breath caught.
She looked up.
Adrian.
He stepped closer, his voice low so only she could hear. "You're avoiding me."
"I'm not," she whispered, eyes darting away.
"You are."
Her cheeks warmed. "I'm just… busy."
He raised an eyebrow. "Busy looking at your plate the whole time?"
She bit her lip, embarrassed.
Adrian leaned in slightly, his voice softer now. "You thought it was a dream."
She didn't answer.
He tilted his head, studying her. "Did you really think I wouldn't come to you first?"
Her heart fluttered.
She whispered, "I… didn't know."
Adrian's expression softened — just a little. "I told you I missed you."
Her chest tightened.
He stepped even closer, lowering his voice. "And I meant it."
She looked up at him, eyes wide, unsure what to say.
Adrian brushed his thumb lightly over her wrist before letting go. "Come to the garden after you're done." Pecked her lips.
Her breath hitched. "Why?"
He smirked. "Because we need to talk."
Then he walked away, leaving her standing there with her heart pounding so loudly she could barely breathe.
Whatever he wanted to say…
It wasn't small.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready — but she knew she would go.