Page 74 of I See You

Hassan, however, noticed.

Without a word, he slipped off his Nike tech jacket, revealing the white muscle shirt beneath. The fabric stretched over his broad chest, the ink of his tattoos dark against his skin, each design more intricate than the last. Sevyn’s eyes traced over them, slowly, memorizing without meaning to.

He walked over, holding the jacket out.

“I’m good, thanks—” she started, shaking her head, but he cut her off.

“Sevyn, put the jacket on.” It wasn’t a suggestion.

Somethingaboutthewayhesaidit—low,firm,final—madeher comply without thinking. She pulled it over her shoulders, wrapping it around herself, her knees tucking up slightly as she settled in.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Hassan didn’t respond, just gave a small nod before shifting his focus to the sky, to the moon hanging low over them. The glow cast sharp shadows across his face as he sparked the blunt, taking a slow pull, the ember burning bright in the darkness.

The silence stretched between them, comfortable but thick with unspoken thoughts. Hassan smoked in steady drags, offering it to Sevyn once, but she shook her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t smoke— she did, from time to time—but not tonight. Not with him. Not when she knew what being high did to her. It made her body heat in ways she didn’t need it to around him. It loosened her tongue, and there were too many things she wanted to say but couldn't.

So she just sat there with him, watching as he stared at the moon like it held all the answers he refused to speak out loud.

“That shit saved me.”

Hisvoicewaslow,likehewastalkingmoretohimselfthanher.

But she heard him.

Sevyn turned her attention fully to him, her curiosity piqued. “What saved you?” she asked, her voice soft, patient, coaxing.

Hassan took another hit before shaking his head slightly, as if debating whether to let the words free. But he let them go anyway.

“The moon.”

Sevyn frowned slightly, not in confusion but in thought. “What is it about the moon?”

He finally turned toward her then, their eyes locking under the dim light. It was the first time he’d looked at her since he started speaking, and his gaze was as intense as ever. But instead of answering, he scoffed.

“Mane, smoke this shit with me or something,” he muttered, shiftingslightly,hisfrustrationevident.“It’salreadyhardenough doingthis gushy-ass shit you got me doing. Least you can do is smoke.” Sevynlaughed,andthesoundwaslight,teasing,genuine.She caughtthewayhisbrowfurrowed,likehewasn’tusedtopeople laughing at him—but she couldn’t help it.

“That’s the most words I’ve ever heard you say.”

Her laughter only grew, and for a moment, she swore she saw something shift in his expression. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was damn close. And then, just like that, a low chuckle rumbled from his chest, and it caught her off guard.

It was deep, rich, and it sounded good.

“Take this shit, mane,” he grumbled, pushing the blunt toward her.

Sevyn hesitated for half a second before taking it, inhaling slowly, smoothly. She exhaled the smoke in a perfect stream, looking at him like she had something to prove—until the hit caught her by surprise, sending her into a fit of coughs.

Hassan shook his head, amused. “That ain’t that weak shit you used to smoking.”

Sevyn finally caught her breath, side-eyeing him through her lashes. “I don’t smoke weak shit. I just pulled too hard.”

She handed the blunt back, and Hassan took it effortlessly, inhaling deep before releasing a slow drag, the smoke rolling from his lips like silk. His eyes never left hers as he did, and she felt that stare everywhere.

She held it.

And in that moment, high or not, Sevyn knew there was something dangerous happening between them.

"Can you sit? You making me nervous," Sevyn muttered, her voice soft but firm. Hassan didn’t argue, just lowered himself onto the chair beside her, passing the blunt back. She took it, inhaling slower this time, letting the smoke curl from her lips in a lazy escape.

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