The Grand staircase felt endless, each step an echo of the tension that had been building between them. Danielle’s heart was racing, but it wasn’t from the weight of their shared past or even the uncertainty of the future. No, it was the simple, undeniable warmth of Seth’s hand wrapped around hers.
She hadn't meant to hold on so tightly, but somehow, it had happened, and now it was impossible to let go. As they descended the stairs, her thoughts spun in circles, trying to process what this new closeness meant, how it would change everything between them. Could she even process it, right here, right now?
Before she could answer herself, Christina’s voice rang out, bright and irreverent, cutting through the air like a splash of cold water.
"About damn time you two came down! I’ve been wai
