She fell into step beside me, close enough that our arms brushed with every step, and I felt each point of contact like electricity, even through our heavy winter coats.
I missed her so fucking much.
At the student union, I found us a couch in a quiet corner. She sat, and I set the food out carefully, trying not to be obvious about how I drank her in and couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She didn’t reach for the food.
“Eat,” I said.
“I’m not hungry.”
Liar.She was running herself to the ground trying to keep her life together and save everyone while I sat in board meetings and pretended to be my father’s loyal son.
Before I could snap at her, her burner phone buzzed. Color drained from her face as she read the message from my father.
“What did he say?” The words came out rough.
“Doesn’t matter.” Her hands trembled as she put the phone away.
It mattered. It mattered so fucking much, I wanted to tear my father apart with my bare hands.
“Eva—”
“I’m scared, Cole,” she interrupted. “I’m so fucking scared and I’m so tired and I’m not getting anywhere and it’s terrifying.”
I reached for her hand slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. She didn’t. Her fingers curled around mine and squeezed tightly, as if she held on to me to keep from falling apart.
“I’ve got you,” I said—a vow.
We sat like that, hands clasped, while she picked at her food with her free hand.
“Eat, Eva,” I implored. “Please.”
I slid my hand from hers and spread hummus on a piece of torn flatbread. “Open.”
She stared at me flatly, but the furrow between her brows relaxed. “I can feed myself.”
“But you’re not,” I answered, well aware my smile didn’t quite meet my eyes.
Hers didn’t either, but she took a bite, then another, and we ate together in silence.
When we’d finally finished, she looked completely wrung out.
“Can you stay?” she asked quietly. “While I study?”
I'll stay forever if you let me.
“Of course.”
She pulled out her laptop. I pulled out my phone. A few minutes later, I was nodding off. To my surprise, Eva nudged me with her shoulder.
“Cole,” she murmured.
“Yeah, princess?” I rasped, blinking back awake.
Eva pushed the small table we’d eaten on away. “Lean on me.”
“You sure?”
