I hadn’t expected to see him again that evening.
The campus library was quiet, the golden glow of the lamps reflecting off the polished floors. I was tucked into a corner, trying to focus on my notes, when I felt someone’s presence beside me.
“Elle,” Aiden’s voice cut softly through the silence, making my heart skip a beat.
I looked up, and there he was. Calm. Composed. Intense. That shadow of him that I had tried so hard to ignore still lingered, and suddenly, all my careful rationalizations felt fragile.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He leaned casually against the table, eyes scanning mine. “Same as you, I guess. But… I needed to see you.”
Something twisted in my chest. “Aiden… you’re with her. You… moved on. Why are you—”
“Because,” he interr
