I sat beside Liam in the quiet of his apartment, his hand warm in mine, and tried to anchor myself in the comfort of him. The way he looked at me—steady, patient, trusting—should have been enough. It was enough.
And yet, I couldn’t shake it.
Aiden’s words echoed in my mind: I’m done. You have him. Not me.
I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against Liam’s shoulder, and a pang of guilt twisted through me. I had already fallen—fallen for Aiden, for the shadow he had cast over my life, for the intensity that had made everything feel alive in a way Liam’s gentle love never would.
It wasn’t fair to Liam. It wasn’t fair to myself. And yet, the truth was undeniable. The absence of Aiden had left a hollow ache, one that Liam’s steady hands and soft kisses could not completely fill.
I wante
