I exhaled deeply, like I’d been holding that breath for days. Then I turned back to my research, steeling myself to return to the books. I was just starting to get into the right headspace when the door creaked open behind me.
My entire body tensed as Piper stepped inside, her expression distracted, almost hesitant.
Of all the times…
The memory of our last encounter slammed into me like a train. My instincts screamed at me to bolt—just get up and leave—but my legs didn’t move.
Why now?
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps before her head snapped to the right—straight toward me. Our eyes locked. For a heartbeat, she froze, stunned. Then she took a step back, like she might bolt too.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she squared her shoulders and disappeared among the bookshelves.
I let out
