All I see is the way Alycia looks like she’s trying not to shake, that stubborn tilt of her chin, the tiny line between her brows when she’s overthinking. She carries the world too easily. And I want to be the one person she can set it down with.
“Yeah,” I hear myself say, low and unguarded. “Hard not to.”
It’s not a line or pretend; it’s the truth. Alycia freezes, fork halfway to her mouth. Her face drains of color, then floods back in a slow, beautiful rush. Her eyes lift to mine, and something sparks there, something that’s been flickering all night finally catching flame.
It’s too much too soon, but I can’t look away. I’ve spent hours memorizing her without meaning to, and now every piece fits: the way she hides her nerves behind sarcasm, how she flinches when someone looks too close, how her laugh sounds when she forgets to be guarded.
Marisol beams, blissfully unaware she’s just blown my cover. “I see why she likes you.”
If only she did.The thought lands hard and ugly because, for all the easy smiles and quick jokes, Alycia still sees this as a favor. A role I’m filling, but I want it to be more. I want her to want it to be more.
Something flickers across Alycia’s face too quickly for anyone but me to catch. I said something she wasn’t ready to hear, and she doesn’t know where to put it. But her mask snaps back into place, and she forces a small,polite smile. “We should probably get going soon, Mom. I have a long day at work tomorrow.”
I nod, swallowing everything I can’t say, pretending I’m not unraveling right here at her family’s table. Because if I don’t pull it together, her mom’s going to see what Alycia can’t yet. Somewhere between the elevator and tonight, I stopped faking it completely.
Chapter Nine
Kyle
Alycia drags her thumb along the edge of the plate, a restless looping motion as if she’s trying to hold herself together. It makes my chest tighten because I know what it means: she’s overwhelmed and pretending she’s not. Whatever just sparked between us is still alive, but she’s already burying it under a polite smile. I sit back, forcing myself to look anywhere but her mouth.
“Already?” Marisol glances up, completely oblivious. “You two haven’t had a chance to have desert.”
“I really do have an early day tomorrow.” Alycia sighs softly.
“Your mom made us pie. I love pie. It would be a travesty not to let me at least try a bite.” I clutch my chest as if she’s just insulted me. “
“¿Ves?He has manners.Muy bien.” Marisol laughs, delighted.
Alycia shoots me a look. “You’re just saying that because you’ll eat anything sweet.”
“Correction, I’ll eatpie.Everything else is negotiable.”
That earns a soft laugh from her mom and a muttered, “Unbelievable,” from Alycia.
“Fine, fine,” Marisol says, patting my hand with warm approval. “I wrap up a slice for you to take home.”
“Thank you. You’re officially my favorite person tonight.”
Alycia rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“Good,” I say quietly, leaning in just enough for her to hear. “Because that’s the plan.”
She’s so close I can see the way one of her curls escaped from behind her ear and rests against her jaw. I shouldn’t touch her, not here, not now, but the urge wins. My hand lifts before I can stop it, fingers brushing that stray strand back behind her ear. She tilts her chin up, and our eyes lock. Every part of me screams to move, to give in and kiss her, but there is something in her gaze that stops me. Fear and hope tangled together, the same mix I’m sure she sees in mine.
“If you keep looking at me like that, and I’m not gonna be able to stop myself,” I whisper, voice rougher than I mean it to be.
“Then maybe don’t.” Her breath hitches, eyes darting to my mouth.
God help me, I almost listen. My heart’s beating too fast as I feel the moment she leans in, the brush ofair that’s nearly a touch, and it’s all I can do not to ruin it by wanting too much. I pull back just enough to keep from doing something we can’t take back.
“Alycia.”
Her name comes out like a prayer I’m not ready to say out loud. For a beat, she just looks at me, eyes bright with something that feels dangerously like yes. Something in me jerks, sharp and involuntary, like someone cut the power mid-breath. The moment snaps in my chest before I can hold on to it, and then footsteps sound.
“Here you go, sweetheart.” Marisol’s voice cuts through the charged quiet as she rounds the corner holding a foil-wrapped plate.
Alycia jumps, blinking like she’s just waking up from a dream, the spell breaking instantly. I drop my hand, fingers curling against my thigh under the table to keep from reaching for her again. It was one second, maybe two, but it changed everything.
