Page 45 of His To Unravel
I want it all with her.
Not for a semester. Not until graduation.Forever.
Eventually, she looks up from her notes and catches me watching her.
A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, warm and knowing. “Everything okay?”
I could give her a dozen answers. I could tell her I’m ruined. I could tell her I’ve never wanted anything the way I want her. That if she asked me to set the whole world on fire just to keep her warm, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Instead, I meet her gaze and say the only word that feels true in this moment: “Perfect.”
Because she is. Perfect in her strength. Perfect in her softness. Perfect for me.
Her smile widens slightly before she returns to her notes, but Ican see the blush that creeps up her neck. She feels it—even if she doesn’t yet understand it.
My eyes drift over the room—the high, arched windows, the soft glow filtering through frosted glass, the silence that wraps around us like a shroud. Here, surrounded by whispers of history and forgotten architects’ dreams, I fortify my own blueprint: a life where Olivia’s world shrinks until only I remain at its center.
There will be no distance—I’ll make sure of it.
FOURTEEN
olivia
Morning light spillsacross the campus pathway as clusters of students hurry between classes or linger on benches.
The buzz of footsteps, snippets of conversation, and occasional bursts of laughter—it all blends into a comforting background hum.
I walk at a leisurely pace, enjoying the crisp air and the brief reprieve before my next lecture. It’s nice, this moment in between things. No expectations. No decisions. Just air and space and quiet.
A familiar voice cuts through the calm. “Olivia, wait up!”
I turn to find Landon approaching, and a flicker of irritation sparks in my chest, but I smother it with a polite smile.
He stops a few feet away, his posture tense. “Can we talk?” The way his eyes search mine feels invasive, like he’s looking for answers I’m not ready to give.
I nod, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. “Sure.”
Landon shifts uncomfortably, glancing over his shoulder before turning back to me. “I need you to hear me out. It’s about Nathaniel.”
Of course it is.I keep my expression neutral, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
“Look, I’m only bringing this up because I care,” he continues. There’s a desperation in his voice that tests my patience. “There’s something off about him. I ran into him outside your dorm the other morning and he was very…territorial.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m capable of making my own decisions.”
Landon’s eyes darken, his lips pressing into a thin line. “You don’t understand. Guys like him—they’re controlling. They don’t just date, theyclaim.”
I cross my arms, annoyance blooming under my skin. “Oh I understand. This isn’t about Nathaniel. It’s about you not wanting me to date anyone else.”
“That’s not fair,” he fires back, but his voice falters.
“No, what’s not fair is you making judgment calls based on jealousy.”
Landon’s shoulders slump in frustrated defeat.
“Just…keep your eyes open,” he says finally, the weight of his gaze making it feel less like advice and more like a warning.
I nod curtly. “I will.”
