Imani’s POV
All afternoon, my pulse refused to settle.
Every time I replayed what happened on the library steps, the way Nicolas glared at Ryder, the way he stepped between us like he owned space he had no right to, and I felt hot embarrassment crawl up my chest.
But what bothered me more wasn’t his jealousy. It was my reaction to it.
Because part of me… liked it.
I spent the entire day trying to breathe the thought out of my system. I walked across campus. I sat under a tree and journaled. I even FaceTimed June, who spent ten minutes ranting about the audacity of men before getting distracted by a pasta recipe.
Nothing worked.
My heart felt knotted around itself.
By evening, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to the tutoring session tonight.
I couldn’t.
Not after the way he looke
