Edrick’s POV
After Alina ran off, I stood there longer than I should have.
The parking lot felt too open, too bright, like everything had seen me freeze. I finally forced my legs to move and got into the car. The door shut with a dull thud, sealing me in with Aria’s presence, her perfume, her quiet expectation.
“What took you so long?” Aria asked, already buckling her seatbelt. “It’s just a parking lot, Edrick.”
“I didn’t realize I was on a timer,” I replied flatly, as the engine started.
She frowned but said nothing else.
The drive home was hell.
My hands were on the steering wheel, but my mind was nowhere near the road. Alina’s face kept flashing in my head, pale and stunned, her eyes locked on mine like she had been struck by something invisible. I replayed the moment over and o
