However, something tells me I shouldn’t be alone with Jake for this conversation. Not after learning about how attached he tends to get when he sets his sight on someone.
“Actually, can we check on my garden plot?” I ask him. “I want to talk to you about something.”
Jake’s eyes light up. “Sounds great,” he says, and he stands up eagerly, like an overexcited puppy.
The garden is at the far edge of the courtyard, tucked away behind a low stone wall. The plants Aerix gifted me—a mix of vibrant flowers and herbs—are thriving, their colors a stark contrast to the darkness of the Night Court.
I crouch by a patch of mint, running my fingers over the leaves to check their condition.
Jake hovers behind me, his presence like a weight pressing against my back.
“You’re good at growing things,” he says. “You’re good ateverything.”
“Jake,” I cut him off before he can continue talking about how amazing he thinks I am. “We need to talk.”
His grin falters. “About what?”
I glance around, making sure no one’s listening. “About us.”
“What about us?” he asks.
My heart pounds, since the pressure is on. I want to do this kindly, but at the same time, I don’t want to lead him on and make him think he has a chance.
And I need to stop stalling.
“I don’t think we’re good together,” I say quickly. “We’re too… different.”
He stares at me, his smile fading completely. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do,” I say. “Look—I was scared when I got here. Matt wouldn’t talk to me. And you reminded me of someone from home. An ex-boyfriend. When we were together, I could almost pretend like…”
Pretend like you were him.
But I don’t say it out loud. It feels too cruel.
“Maybe I look like him because you and me are meant to be together,” he scrambles, as if searching for any way to change my mind. “It’s always been so easy to talk to you. We justclick.And when we kiss…” He pauses, his eyes turning dreamy. “It’s like the entire world stops. Iloveyou, Zoey. I have since the first time I saw you. I knew, right then, that we’d spend our lives here together. That we’d support each other and love each other, no matter what.”
My chest tightens with a mix of shock and dread.
He can’t actually believe this.
Can he?
“We’ve only known each other for a little over a week.” I keep my voice steady, even though my nerves are fraying. “You can’t love me. You barely even know me.”
“But I do know you,” he insists, moving closer, the desperation in his eyes making me take a small step back. “You’re strong, brave, and funny. You don’t give up, even in a place like this. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Just give me a chance, and you’ll see. You’ll fall in love with me, too.”
I shake my head, a knot forming in my stomach. “This isn’t love,” I tell him. “It’s infatuation. It’s notreal.”
“Itisreal,” he insists. “You’re just scared. I get it. This place makes everyone scared. But I can protect you. If you let me in, I can make you happy. I promise.”
Wow. This went from zero to a hundred so quickly that it’s giving me whiplash.
“Stop andlistento me,” I say sharply, holding up a hand. “I’m sorry for leading you on, but I don’t feel the same way about you. I wanted to, but I don’t. And that’s not going to change. Ever.”
Especially not afterthis.
His expression hardens, the hurt in his eyes giving way to something darker. “You don’t mean that,” he says. “You’re just saying it because of Aerix.”
