But yeah.
I don’t know, I’m panicking.
I’m not okay.And he noticed, his lips twitching just a little, as if he wanted to smile but didn’t dare.
Honey purred louder.
And honestly, at that point, I couldn’t even tell who was worse. Joshua Lockhart, or the tiny orange cat determined to make my heart combust before breakfast.
I couldn’t breathe properly.
It wasn’t that the air was heavy, more like my lungs forgot how to work when he was that close. So before my brain could betray me further, I did the only logical thing: I lowered Honey into his lap.
The little traitor purred as if she belonged there, curling instantly against his stomach as if to say,yeah, I like him better anyway.
Joshua’s eyes flicked up to me, confused, still half-asleep but awake enough to notice the way my hands trembled.
“Bye,” I said softly, the word small, nearly a whisper, before turning on my heel.
I didn’t wait for him to respond.
Didn’t dare.
I could feel the weight of his gaze following me as I slipped on my shoes by the door, could still hear Honey’s faint purrs echoing behind me, like the universe was laughing, whisperingyou’re running again, Aurora.
Maybe I was.
Because if I stayed one more second in that room with his messy hair, the rasp of his morning voice, and the ghost of that almost-too-close moment, I’d do something stupid.
Like stay.
So I ran.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Aurora / Joshua
Aurora
January twentieth. Winter break was over.
The moment I stepped through Silverwood’s front gate, I barely had time to adjust the strap on my bag before a chorus of voices screamed my name.
“AURORA!”
I looked up; Layla, Jennie, and Aly were running. Full speed, arms waving, hair flying in every direction. I didn’t even have time to react before Jennie practically crashed into me, wrapping me up in a hug that squeezed all the air out of my lungs.
“Wha—wait!” I laughed—actually laughed—and my voice cracked halfway through the word.
Three sets of eyes froze on me.
Layla’s jaw dropped. Aly’s hands flew to her mouth. Jennie’s grip tightened.
“Say that again,” Layla whispered, eyes wide.
I blinked, cheeks warm. “I—I said, wait,” I stuttered, soft but clear enough for them to hear.
Jennie squealed. “OH MY GOD, YOU SPOKE!”
