Chapter 52

Ciara's POV

Orion hasn't been himself since we got back from the Alpha conference. Two weeks ago when we returned, I could tell right away that something was bothering him, but no matter how many times I asked him what was wrong, he wouldn’t tell me.

Later on, he made a comment about bathing together but immediately suggested I go alone. It wasn’t such a strange request, but for Orion—who couldn’t keep his hands off me before—to suddenly be avoiding me at every chance he got... it felt off.

It all started after we got back. Two weeks and not a single touch, not a single kiss. Almost a month since Orion made any move to be close to me. Every time he brushed past me or barely looked at me, I could feel the distance growing. It was like he was slipping through my fingers, and I had no idea why.

My thoughts wandered back to Mikey. The little boy I met in California. From the moment I saw him, something inside me shifted. I didn’t realize it at f