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It’s official. I’m a goner.

Honestly, I’ve been gone, fucking obsessed with her for years.

We kiss and kiss, our hands caressing and exploring—until the sound of a door unlocking shatters the moment.

I rear back, frozen for a moment. Her pupils are blown, panic flashing across her face. She takes a huge step back, putting distance between us.

“Time’s up. Hope you two figured your shit out.” The door opens, and Asher’s voice reaches us first before he steps inside. When he clocks us, he halts in his tracks.

I bet we’re quite a sight—hair disheveled, lips swollen, even though we’re not standing close.

“If you need more time, I can go back and wait in the car.” He grins with that smug look that says, Fucking finally.

I can’t help but smile in return.

“If I’d known all you needed was closed doors and forced proximity, I would’ve locked you two up a long time ago,” he comments, glancing between us.

It registers then that Isla hasn’t said a word.

I fix my focus on her, and my heart sinks. Cheeks flushed, she grips the hem of her skirt like she’s searching for something to ground her and keeps her attention on the floor.

“Isla.” I reach over, drawn to her.

She jerks back, sidestepping me. “I have to go.” With that, she’s gone, making a beeline for the door.

I grab her duffel bag from the floor and rush after her. Asher follows me out of the building.

“Isla, wait.”

She unlocks her car and pulls the door open, but I catch up with her before she has time to slip inside.

“Please, wait,” I say hoarsely. “Don’t go.”

“This… It’s a mistake.” Her voice trembles, though it seems like hesitation more than fear or anger.

“No, it isn’t.” I step closer, her duffel bag hanging from my fingertips.

She sucks in a harsh breath, her hands trembling as she clasps them in front of her.

“Hey,” I say softly. “You’re shaking. You shouldn’t drive like this. Let us take you home.”

“That’s okay. I’m fine.”

Dammit, why is she pushing me away?

“I should go,” she whispers. “I-I need to think. Tonight was…a lot.”

“Your bag.” I open the back door and set it on the seat. “We’ll follow you. Just to make sure you get to the dorms safely.”

She lets out a breath. “Okay.” Without looking at me, she slips into the driver’s seat.

Only once I close both doors and step back does she peer up, her eyes locking with mine through the window. Her expression is loaded, full of unspoken questions and thoughts and emotions still buried deep. But her admitting she wanted her first kiss to be with me, how she begged me not to let her go, and the way she hesitates before starting the engine…it all gives me hope. Just enough to tell me this isn’t over.

She needs space, and I’ll gladly give her that. For now. But I won’t give up on her, on the possibility of us.

Not anymore.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE