Chapter 115
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Im not walking you out, I called after him as he stepped into the hallway.
“Good,” he called back, loud enough that I was sure other tenants could hear him. “I don’t want anyone else eyeing my girlfriend.
I shook my head with a smile, listening to his footsteps fade down the hallway, Derek had a way of making even ordinary moments feel lighter, more fun. It was a gift I envied.
As I cleaned up our glasses and put away the orange juice, my mind wander to the look on Rhys’s face when Derek had claimed to be my boyfriend.
The way his smooth smile had wavered, like the mask had slipped for just a moment. I’d caught a glimpse of something underneath that perfect
exterior, something that didn’t match the charming neighbor act,
Maybe Derek’s instincts were better than mine. Maybe I was still too trusting too willing to give people the benefit of th
I went to my small kitchen and opened the mini freezer, pulling out the smoothie I’d made that morning. I had a bit of an
made them fresh almost every day and usually had one in the morning and another in the evening.
sooothies – 1
As I sipped the cold, sweet mixture of strawberries and banana, my thoughts drifted to Tristan. How was he doing? Was he eating properly, sleeping
enough, taking care of himself the way he always insisted everyone else should?
He’d looked exhausted when I’d seen him at the office earlier, like he hadn’t slept properly in days. There were dark circles under his eyes and a
tightness around his mouth that spoke of stress and worry.
I wanted to tell myself that his wellbeing wasn’t my concern anymore, that I’d moved out and moved on and his problems weren’t mine to solve.
But this was Tristan. Despite everything that had happened between us, despite the hurt and confusion and mixed signals, there had been times when
he’d been there for me.
Real, important times when his presence had made the difference between surviving and falling apart completely.
I just hoped he was okay.
A sound from outside made me pause with the smoothie glass halfway to my lips. It sounded like a knock, but it was so soft I wasn’t sure. I waited, listening carefully, but heard nothing else.
Probably my imagination. The building was old and full of settling noises, creaking pipes, and neighbors moving around at odd hours.
I finished my smoothie and washed the glass, ready to head to my bedroom and call this incredible day complete. But as I turned off the kitchen light, I heard it again – a soft but definite knock at my front door.
Had Derek forgotten something? Maybe his keys or his wallet?
I walked to the door and stood there for a moment, listening. The knock came again, still soft but more insistent.
‘Who’s there?” I called, my voice coming out smaller and more nervous than d intended.
“Ath. The voice was low, barely above a whisper, but I heard it clear as a bel
I knew that voice. Even in my sleep, even in a crowded room full of people talking, I could pick out that particular tone. It belonged to someone who’d been part of the soundtrack of my life for years.
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Chapter 115
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What was Tristan doing here at this hour? And why
did he sound like he was trying not to wake the whole building?
My heart started beating faster as I reached for the door handle, a dozen qutions racing through my mind. Was he okay? Had something happened?
Why hadn’t he called first?
And underneath all those practical concerns was a deeper question, one I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.
What did it mean that he was here, now, when we’d been so carefully polite and distant for days?
