And she hadn’t bled.
Yet she wasn’t as happy as she should be, and she knew it. No matter how much she tried, she just couldn’t forget Hadrian. Every assignment she took reminded her of the incredible man she’d known for just a brief time.
I’ve got to get over this.
Her door buzzed.
She wasn’t really paying attention as she opened it, thinking it was Eve who was due for a lunch date.
So, when it slid open to show her a very tall, gorgeous Tris, all she could do was stand there, gaping.
Hadrian screwed his face up. “Still, can’t read you. Are you happy see me, or pissed?”
Without thinking, she launched herself at him with such force that it knocked him back.
Wrapping his arms around her and laughing, he held her close as she kissed him with everything she had.
“I’m going to take it that you’re happy.”
More than she could even explain. “What are you doing here?”
He handed her is ID. “I took your advice and bought a condo not far away.”
Confused, she looked at it and saw his alias. It also listed him as a Hyshian male.
“Isn’t it illegal for a male to live alone?”
“Technically, yes. But I was hoping that I might be able to persuade this incredible woman I know to have some mercy on me. Keep me out of jail.”
Those words made her heart sing. Yet she was terrified to let herself jump to any conclusion. “What kind of proposition is this?”
He shrugged. “The best I could come up with on short notice. I never was one much for creativity.”
Jayne shut her door and stared at him. He was thinner than he’d been, and his hair was longer.
Still, he was absolutely stunning.
But that didn’t stop her from being a little pissed off about this. “You vanish for six months with no contact whatsoever and you think, what? You can just come back and pick me up?”
At least he had the decency to look sheepish. “Not exactly. Jinx told me to stay away until he was sure no one was coming back for me. You can call him and ask. I didn’t want to endanger you.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out an envelope. “And I come bearing gifts.”
Really, he was the best gift she could have hoped for. She couldn’t imagine anything better.
Until she pulled the documents out of his folder. Disbelief, shock, happiness, and incredulity warred as she tried to make sense of what he’d given her. “Is this for real?”
Smiling, he nodded. “Syn pulled strings with his school. You’ve been accepted into their teaching program.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“Why would you do this?”
Pain darkened his eyes. “I can’t get you out of my mind, Jayne. I’ve been absolutely miserable without you.”
“But you’ve made yourself a Hyshian. Do you understand what that means?”
A slow smile spread over his face. “Freedom alone is worthless. I know it’s been brief, but no one brings me the peace and happiness that you do. I want your face to be the first one I see in the morning and the last one I see at night.”
A single tear fled down her cheek. “I love you, Hadrian.”
