“You really don’t see it, do you?” she asked after a pause.
“See what?”
She tossed the towel on the counter and crossed her arms. “The way he looks at you. Like you hung the moon and all the stars.”
I shook my head and gave a half-hearted laugh. “It’s not like that.”
“It is, Amber.”
I didn’t say anything.
“He’s not Rayne.”
“I know that.”
“He’s never once pushed you. Never crossed a line. He gives you space, respects your silence, and still shows up. Every time. Do you know how rare that is?”
I ran the sponge over a plate again that was already clean. “It doesn’t matter, Ichika. Even if I wanted something more… I can’t.”
She was quiet for a moment. Then softly, “Because of the bond?”
I nodded. “There’s still a part of me tied to Rayne. Maybe there always will be.”
“But you had i
