Page 7 of His To Unravel
That can’t happen. I didn’t return to Halford just to watch her run to the other side of the country, or worse, another continent.
No, I need to keep her close. Back to New York, where she belongs. WhereIbelong. My family’s legacy is rooted there, and that’s where I’ll build my future, with her by my side.
I school my expression, keeping it neutral, curious. “Somewhere new for a fresh start?” I prompt, letting my voice sound almost amused, as if I think she might be joking.
She nods, her expression growing thoughtful. “I suppose. It’s more about…freedom. The space to figure things out for myself without any expectations,” she says, her voice lowering, as though she’s revealing a vulnerability she rarely shares. “Sometimes, I feel like I’ve just been…on autopilot. Doing what I’msupposedto do rather than choosing what I really want.”
Her words echo in my mind, and I consider her carefully.Freedom.Her need for it pulses as a challenge. She craves something she thinks she can find by fleeing, when in truth, it’s the very thing I intend to dissolve piece by piece.
When the time comes, Olivia will see that her future isn’t on the West Coast, or anywhere else, but with me.
For now, I nod, feigning understanding. “It makes sense, Olivia. You’re driven, and maybe that drive deserves to be less…restricted.”
Her lips lift in a soft smile, pleased by my response, though perhaps not entirely convinced. There’s a faint flush in her cheeks, a trace of color that appears as she opens up, and I savor it, knowing that each admission brings her closer to my orbit.
“So,” I continue, leaning just slightly forward, “tell me more about where this all started. You’re here on scholarship, right? That must have meant a lot to your family.”
The softness in her gaze sharpens, her back straightening slightly, and I watch her hesitate before nodding. “Yes. My parents…they worked hard, but we were never exactly well-off. Getting here was… It felt like I owed it to them to make the most of this chance. To prove it was worth it.”
It’s the opening I was waiting for, confirmation of the pressure she feels. The vulnerability she carries in her bones, persistent and rarely shared, speaks to me like an unvoiced invitation. “That’s a lot to carry,” I murmur, letting my words hang between us.
Her smile is small, almost self-conscious. “It is. But it’s my own fault, too. I’ve always been a little too focused on living up to other people’s expectations, instead of?—”
“Your own desires,” I finish for her, soft yet certain.
She glances at me, surprised, her eyes studying mine for a beat longer than necessary. It’s the look that tells me she feels seen, understood. And I know she won’t easily shake this moment from her mind.
She’s quiet for a second, then asks gently, “What about you? I mean, you don’t seem like the type who has to prove anything to anyone.” A tentative pause. “What’s your family like?”
The shift is subtle, but I feel it. That old, instinctive lock closing inside my chest. I smile—easy, practiced. “They have their expectations too,” I say lightly, steering the words somewhere neutral. “But I’ve learned to navigate them.”
She opens her mouth, maybe to press, but something in my tone must stop her. She simply nods, letting the question settle unanswered between us.
I let the silence settle, our study materials untouched as her gaze drops to the table. Her hand brushes against mine as she reaches for a page, and she doesn’t pull back immediately. My pulsequickens with satisfaction—she’s relaxing around me, the faintest crack in her guarded exterior.
I tuck each detail away like a prized possession: the earnestness in her voice, the openness in her gaze, the hesitation that has her glancing back at me when she thinks I’m not looking.
Olivia has no idea that this is exactly what I wanted. For her to think this exchange was inevitable, a product of two classmates growing close over a project. I smile to myself, keeping it subtle, my mind already planning how to deepen this connection she’s only just begun to acknowledge.
Letting her come to me, step by step, is a game I intend to win.
And though today was but a small victory, it’s one I’ll relish all the same.
FOUR
olivia
The courtyard is always buzzingthis time of day—students bustling between classes, groups gathered around benches under the canopy of tree branches stretching overhead. I spot my friends at a shaded spot near the edge, their laughter rising above the din as they wave me over.
Sophie and Tyler sit side by side, as always. Sophie, with her effortless charm, coasts through classes more on personality than effort. Tyler, easygoing and athletic, is always ready with a joke or lighthearted commentary. They both have a knack for enjoying Halford’s social perks despite the pressure of classes, and I envy how easy they make it all look.
Next to them, Carolyn sits with her usual calm focus. She’s a little more like me in terms of academics, though far better at juggling life and school. She says she admires my discipline, but we both know her way of balancing things and living fully in each moment is the healthier approach. She and I are in the same Strategic Management class with Nathaniel, and I have a feeling she’ll have something to say about that pairing soon.
Landon, last in the lineup, greets me with a thoughtful smile. He’s been a steady presence in my life since freshman year andoften the first to notice when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Today is no different. Even as he joins in the others’ banter, his gaze holds a question he hasn’t yet voiced.
“Look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Sophie teases, scooting over on the bench to make space.
I roll my eyes, settling in between her and Tyler, who nudges me playfully. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
