The walk to the parking lot should have felt awkward.
It didn’t.
Which honestly might have been worse.
Because now that everything had been said—
Or almost said—
Lily could feel the difference between them everywhere.
In every glance.
Every silence.
Every accidental brush of their shoulders as they walked side by side across campus.
Nothing had technically changed.
And yet somehow—
Everything had.
The evening air had cooled slightly by the time they reached the edge of the student parking lot.
Most people had already left.
Only a few scattered cars remained beneath the fading orange sunlight.
Noah slowed beside her.
Not stopping completely.
Just enough that Lily noticed immediately.
“You’re thinking too hard again,” he said quietly.
Lily looked over at him. “How do you a
