Maya’s POV
I blinked, my breath hitching as I pulled back slightly, breaking the delicate spell hanging between us. I felt a warm, undeniable blush creep up my cheeks.
"It's late," I whispered, my heart thumping against my ribs. "And I actually have an 8:00 AM lecture. You need to go, Cole."
"Right. Duty calls." He slowly stood up, and I felt the cold room air rush into the space where his warmth had just been.
"Goodbye, Cole," I said, my voice soft.
I walked him back out to the balcony. He stepped over the railing and began his descent, moving carefully in the dim light. I leaned over the railing watching him go down. He was halfway down when I heard the trellis give a sharp, agonizing groan. A section of the old wood snapped, and Cole tumbled the remaining few feet, landing with
