Liam and I were walking across the quad, our hands intertwined, when I froze.
Aiden. And Deinty.
They were just ahead, strolling side by side, laughing softly. Deinty leaned into him like she owned every second of his attention, her fingers brushing his arm casually. Aiden looked relaxed, smiling at her in a way that had once been reserved for me, or so my heart protested.
I felt a tightness in my chest, a mix of jealousy and guilt, and I had to swallow hard to keep from showing it. Liam noticed instantly.
“Elle… you okay?” he asked, his thumb brushing over mine in that grounding way that had always calmed me.
I forced a smile. “Yeah… just… didn’t expect to see someone.”
My eyes, though, kept flicking back toward them. Every laugh, every subtle touch between Aiden and Deinty pulled a
