Scarlett’s POV
The night felt unusually quiet after everything, after the ache, the words, the explanations. The storm between us had finally settled, and we were left standing, two bruised hearts that still wanted each other. That still needed each other. I didn’t know how long I stood there, breathing him in, but the air between us had shifted, gentler now. Softer. Like it remembered what love was supposed to feel like.
Jasper held out his hand to me again. “Let’s forget tonight started the way it did,” he murmured, his voice so low I almost didn’t catch it. “Let’s end it differently.”
I didn’t speak. I just nodded and let my fingers slip into his. His grip tightened ever so slightly, like he was scared I’d let go again. But I didn’t.
We walked back to the room, his room, still hand
