Emily woke up the next morning, still feeling the lingering warmth of Lucas’s kiss from the night before. For a brief moment, she had believed that things between them might improve, that their relationship could overcome the hurdles Mira’s presence had thrown in their path. But as she got dressed and prepared for another day at Ravenswood, the doubt crept back in.
She hadn’t seen Lucas since their encounter in the hallway. He hadn’t come to her room, nor had he sought her out that morning. Instead, Emily found herself sitting alone at the breakfast table, Mira’s laughter echoing down the hall from the direction of Lucas’s office.
She clenched her jaw, staring down at her untouched plate. She could hear them talking, Mira’s voice light and playful, Lucas’s deep and steady in response. Wh
