Ariana’s POV
It was Saturday. No school. No excuse to escape into the chaos of campus halls or Lana’s infectious chatter. Just me, Roman, and the ever-growing weight of our silence.
Except he wasn’t home. At least, not right now.
I walked barefoot through the apartment, letting the cool marble kiss my skin. The place was quiet. Still. The only sound was the hum of the AC and the faint ticking of the clock in the hallway.
Roman’s door was closed.
It always was.
He never let me in. Not once. And I never asked why. Maybe because I was scared of what I’d find. Or scared of what it meant—that part of him would always be off-limits.
But today, curiosity burned hotter than fear.
I stood before the door, heart racing. The handle was cool under my fingers. I turned it.
Unlocked.
His scent
