He was slowly, quietly pushing the other one aside.
Without effort. Without force.
Just by existing.
She lifted her cup, took a sip and startled herself again.
What did this mean?
That she was ready to forgive?
Or that she was simply exhausted from carrying everything inside her for so many years?
“Thank you,” she said, lifting her gaze to him and sneaking a glance at the time, pretending she had somewhere urgent to be. As if at eleven p.m. she could possibly have pressing plans.
As expected, Jasper didn’t even let her reach for the check.
“This one’s on me,” he said calmly, taking out his card.“My invitation.”
She didn’t argue.
Tonight, she wanted to set her armor aside. Just for a little while.
They stepped outside. The air was warm, almost springlike. The street was quiet, peaceful.
Jasper walked beside her, hands in his pockets, his expression distant, thoughtful. Her car was only a few steps away—but she didn’t want to leave. Something tugged at her, thin and nearly invisible.
She stopped and turned to face him.
He stopped too, looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“So why did you really ask me to meet you?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.“It wasn’t just for dinner company. You wanted to talk about something, didn’t you?”
It felt that way. And yet he hadn’t brought up any of the obvious topics.
Jasper looked at her for a long moment without his usual distance. As if he were searching her eyes for permission to be honest.
He opened his mouth to answer and didn’t get the chance.
A guy on an electric scooter suddenly flew past them.
Nina barely registered what was happening, only felt a strong arm snap around her waist and yank her backward.
The world tilted. The ground vanished beneath her feet. She collided with Jasper as the scooter shot past inches away.
It took her a second to realize that the idiot had been racing down the sidewalk without looking.
She stood pressed against Jasper’s chest. Her heart pounded. Her breathing was uneven.
And he didn’t let go.
Not even a minute later.
His hand was still on her waist—burning, disorienting.
The adrenaline slowly faded, but inside she still vibrated like a drawn wire. His chest rose and fell sharply against her. He didn’t release her.
And she didn’t movebecause she didn’t want him to.
