Ariana POV
I pushed open the door to the small campus café near the library, the smell of fresh coffee and warm pastries wrapped around me like a hug. Jace was already there, sitting at our usual corner table by the window, two mugs in front of him. He looked up the second I walked in, and that easy, warm smile crossed his face; the one that always made my stomach do a little flip even though I kept telling myself it shouldn’t.
“Morning,” he said as I sat down across from him. “I got you the usual. Black coffee, extra shot, no cream.”
“Thanks.” I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into my fingers. “You didn’t have to do that every time.”
“I know.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs under the table until his knee brushed mine lightly. “But I w
