Page 42 of His To Unravel
Whatever the cost, I will hold this ground.
A hint of dew still clings to the grass as I walk across campus, the sun casting long, golden rays over the cobblestone pathways. My destination lies ahead, but as I pass Olivia’s dorm, a familiar figure catches my attention.
Landon.
He stands near the entrance, hands shoved into his pockets, shifting his weight uncomfortably. The sight of him loitering there, waiting for her, ignites a simmering heat in my chest—a controlled burn I know how to wield.
He notices me approaching and straightens, his expression faltering between recognition and uncertainty. I allow a slow, deliberate smile to stretch across my lips as I approach.
“Morning,” I say, my tone even.
“Nathaniel,” he replies, the name clumsy in his mouth. He swallows, glancing back at the dorm entrance before meeting my gaze again. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Likewise.”
I let the silence stretch between us. Let him squirm.
“I was just—uh—checking in on Olivia.” The admission hangs in the air, daring me to react.
I tilt my head slightly. “Is that what you call it?” The words are clipped, a knife dulled just enough to pass as civil. “You have an interesting habit of showing up where you aren’t needed.”
His jaw tightens and a spark of defiance flickers in his eyes. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I’m not going to disappear just because you came into the picture.”
Ah, there it is. The thinly veiled declaration, the challenge.
“Friends,” I echo, allowing the word to roll on my tongue as though tasting it for the first time. My gaze meets his, steady and cold, the undercurrent of meaning unmistakable.
“It’s an admirable sentiment, really,” I continue, voice lowering to a conspiratorial murmur. “Thinking that time earns you something. That you’reowedsomething.”
He squares his shoulders, tension buzzing in the space between us. “I care about her.”
I let out a quiet, amused breath and take a step closer, my voice dropping to something colder. “A word of advice,Landon. Having designs on something that is not meant for you often leads to regret. Or worse.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks, but he remains silent, eyes darting away for a moment before returning to meet mine with a mixture of frustration and doubt.
“I’m not afraid of you,” he says, though the strain in his voice suggests otherwise.
“Good,” I murmur, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.“Fear is so limiting. I’d rather we both be clear on where we stand.”
I glance once toward the dorm entrance then back at Landon. “You’ll be waiting a while.”
That’s all I give him. Without another word, I turn and walkaway, leaving Landon in the morning’s growing light, shadowed by the unspoken warning that will surely echo long after I am gone.
Unlike this fool, I knowexactlywhere she is because I’ve made it my business to know. This…boy, with his harmless, hopeful glances and misplaced affections, is no match for me.
It’s almost funny, really, how boys like him think persistence is proximity. As if being near her is the same thing as being wanted.
I will make certain he remains on the periphery—a forgettable footnote in Olivia’s story.
The campus cafébuzzes with morning energy—the low hum of conversations, clinking mugs, and bursts of laughter.
I move with purpose, my eyes already tracking the familiar glint of copper hair in a corner booth. Olivia’s surrounded by her friends, Carolyn gesturing animatedly while Sophie’s unmistakable laugh draws attention from nearby tables.
But my focus never wavers.
Olivia’s face lights up when she spots me, surprise blooming into a blush that colors her cheeks. The reaction sparks a sharp satisfaction within me.
“Nate,” Olivia greets as I approach, delight evident in her voice. I offer her a smile before I lean in and press a gentle kiss to her cheek.
