Xander
The voice on the other end kept talking—something about projections, timelines, deliverables. I let it fade into background noise.
My eyes stayed on the tablet, scrolling through project files that should’ve held my attention. They didn’t.
My thumb hovered over the screen a second too long.
That was the first mistake.
And then I was thinking about her again.
Holding my gaze without hesitation. No flicker of fear. No retreat. Just steady.
My grip tightened slightly on the tablet before I even realized it.
It should’ve been over by now.
The voice on the call kept talking, but I wasn’t really hearing it.
“…and if we adjust the second phase, we can stabilize the entire structure before—”
I cut the call.
Silence followed, sharp and immediate.
I should’ve felt relief. I neede
