Chapter 80

Alex’s POV

Dinner ended on a strange note, very strange, but not in a bad way. The tension lingered around and it was as thick as smoke.

Every time I thought Emily would pull back completely, she surprised me by leaning just close enough which made me have these crazy thoughts.

We ate, though neither of us could pretend to be focused on the food.

I barely tasted my meal. All I could think about was her hand brushing mine earlier, the way her lips had parted like she was on the verge of confessing something but she backed out at the last minute.

When she excused herself to the restroom, I found myself watching the clock, restless. My chest tightened with the urge to follow her, to keep her within reach.

By the time she returned, I had already decided something… I wasn’t letting her leave tonight without knowing that things had changed between us.

She slid back into her seat, her cheeks a little flushed, her lipstick faintly smudged. My