Maddox:
I told myself I was just passing through. Just a shortcut.
But deep down, I knew I was looking for her.
Juliette.
And there she was.
Curled by a shelf in the drama section, fingers skimming titles. Her posture was relaxed, unaware. Her messy bun looked like it had been redone in a rush, and her cheeks were flushed like she’d run here. I stopped mid-step, everything in me grinding to a halt.
The sight of her hit me like a blow.
I missed her so much it hurt.
She looked up.
Our eyes locked.
Her entire body stiffened, the color draining from her face. She stood abruptly, clutching a script to her chest like armor.
"Jules," I managed, my voice cracking under the weight of her name.
Her mouth parted, like she didn’t know what to say. Her eyes flicked toward the exit, calculat
