Chapter 21

Pax Brown came as suddenly as he left.

One moment, he was here–his presence unsettling the entire lab, turning heads, lowering voices into hushed.

whispers.

The next, he was gone.

No explanations. No drawn–out goodbyes.

The others didn’t understand.

I let out a slow breath, feeling the weight lift from my chest.

Beside me, Erike lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes trembling ever so slightly,

But his expression remained unreadable.

“So that’s him?” he asked, his voice quiet. “The ex–boyfriend who pretended to be poor?”

I nodded.

Outside, winter had settled in fully.

the frosted windowpanes, blanketing the city in

the narrow cracks, sending an icy chill through the room.

curled my fingers, trying to shake off the

Erike moved first.

he stepped forward and shut the window, sealing out

of frigid air slipped through, his voice followed–soft,

that it

I stilled.

second, the words

Then, realization dawned.

echoing Pax’s words.“What are you

was no teasing.

51.24

Chapter 21

Only quiet hesitation.

his ears

his usually steady gaze flickering

Expectation.

quiet, unspoken hope.

I ever felt

Maybe.

all, we had spent countless nights side by side, working

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