Out of His Shadows

Blood soaked through my dress. "It's just childbirth, not a death sentence.

Stop the crying." Nolan, my husband of five years, hung up on my pleas for help without a single hesitation. A second later, a notification lit up my cracked screen.

Pearl—the one who got away—just updated her Instagram. Right in the middle of her photo dump was a shot of Nolan. He was kissing her deeply under the Disneyland fireworks.

I stared at the glaring pool of blood on the floor. Every last ounce of hope I held for that man turned to ash. I stopped screaming for help.

I just closed my eyes and let the cold take over. … The sharp clatter of silverware hitting porcelain jerked me back to reality. No blood. No death.

I was sitting at the table for our New Year's Eve family dinner. Nolan leaned into my ear. A careless smirk played on his lips. "I'm bored of sleeping with you.

You should find someone else to marry, yeah?" I didn't flinch. I just nodded. "Sure," I smiled. "I'm bored too. We're done." Chapter 1 Nolan froze.

He stared at me like I had just grown a second head. I was the girl who used to blow up at the slightest provocation, yet here I was, sitting with my hands quietly folded in my lap.

The teasing smirk vanished from his face. He locked his eyes on mine. "Avery, do you even hear what I'm saying?" My smile didn't waver. "I heard you perfectly.

You told me to find someone else, didn't you?" In my past life, if he had uttered even a single word out of line, I would have flown off the handle.

I would have clawed at him until he begged for forgiveness. But this time, I was handing him his freedom. And taking mine back.

Nolan's brows knitted together. "Avery, what the hell is wrong with you today?" Before he could finish, the sharp shatter of glass echoed from the next table.

A second later, a figure in a white dress practically sprinted out the door, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Heads turned across the room.

My older brother, Mason, nudged Nolan. "Wasn't that your ex who just smashed her glass? Did you invite her tonight?" Mason raised an eyebrow. "It's New Year's Eve.

People don't just throw tantrums for no reason. Did you do something?" Nolan's scowl deepened. He shoved his chair back and strode out the door.

Soon enough, the muffled sobbing from the hallway faded, replaced by the hushed, intimate murmurs of a couple. The servers kept bringing out food.

I just kept chewing, the mechanical motion of my jaw anchoring me to the present. In the past, at every family dinner, I would play the dutiful nanny.

I would pour his bourbon and slice the best cut of steak, placing it perfectly on his plate. It was a habit I had formed over the years.

He always got caught up in business calls, constantly stepping out midmeal. Mason used to get jealous seeing me cater to him. "Wow. Serving him again.

You don't even treat your own brother this well." He'd squint at me. "I've been onto you for a while.

Don't tell me you actually have a crush on the guy?" More than once, the truth was right on the tip of my tongue. But Nolan would immediately pull away.

He would ruffle my hair like I was just a kid and laugh it off, telling everyone I was just his little foster sister. I got the message loud and clear.

He never wanted to go public with our relationship. For five whole years, his social media was plastered with bachelor parties and fratboy nights out.

He never posted a single picture of me. He wouldn't even give me a damn tag. He treated our relationship like a crime scene, wiping away any trace that we had ever loved each other.

But because I was so desperately in love with him, I willingly stayed hidden in his shadow, over and over again.

Noticing my silence, Mason nudged me again. "Why don't you go check on your precious Nolan?

Better watch out, or he might just run off with another girl." My fork paused. "Let him run off with whoever he wants.

It's none of my business." I shoved the food into my mouth. "I'm just his little sister, right? No need to interrupt." Mason gave me a hard look, trying to read my face.

Today was Nolan's birthday. We had made a pact to finally announce our relationship tonight. But I hadn't expected him to invite Pearl, the untouchable girl from his past.

Right then, Nolan and Pearl walked back into the dining room. Pearl's eyes were bloodshot, her makeup slightly smudged from crying.

Nolan had his hand firmly wrapped around hers, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles in a soothing rhythm. Mason let out a low whistle. "Nolan, Pearl.

You guys back together or what?" Nolan's head snapped up. His eyes darted to me, the muscles in his jaw twitching involuntarily. "Stop talking trash.

We've known each other for years. Is it a crime to check on a friend?" Mason leaned in, completely shameless. "I've known you for years too, man.

Where's my checkin?" Nolan shoved his shoulder with a forced laugh. "Get lost." I watched Pearl shrinking against Nolan's side like a fragile little bird.

I grabbed Mason's arm and pulled him back. "Mason, leave them alone. Don't interrupt Nolan and Pearl's private moment.

Just eat your food." I flashed Nolan a bright, effortless smile. "Right, Nolan?" He flinched. He stared at me with an unreadable expression, his jaw tight.

But he didn't say another word. He just turned and walked Pearl out. Chapter 2 As soon as they left the table, the whispers started. "Told you the 'one who got away' hits different.

Judging by tonight, they're definitely getting back together." "When Pearl got into that horrible car crash years ago, Nolan walked away from a milliondollar startup fund without blinking.

He practically lived by her hospital bed, helping her through rehab. Now that is true love." "He gave up half his life for her.

Now that she's back in the States, they're never going to separate again." The air thinned in the room. My nails dug into my palms so hard I almost drew blood.

Their lives had been tangled together from the start. I was just the idiot playing his dirty little secret. In my past life, everything shattered the second Nolan and I got married.

He wouldn't even brush against me in the hallway. We slept in separate bedrooms. He even demanded his own set of silverware.

It wasn't until his parents pressured him for an heir that he finally dragged himself into my bed to get the job done. He kept the lights off.

His eyes were squeezed shut the entire time, his jaw clenched like he was being subjected to some medieval torture.

The next morning, he packed an overnight bag and drove straight to Pearl's place. He didn't come back. One winter, my fever spiked so high I was coughing up blood.

I begged him to drive me to the ER. He coldly refused, claiming he had an unavoidable business dinner. An hour later, someone tagged him at a luxury spa in the Hamptons.

He was treating Pearl to a fullday package. The massage therapist even commented on what a perfect couple they were.

When my water broke prematurely, I collapsed on our hardwood floor, a pool of blood spreading beneath me. I called him, sobbing. He snapped. "It's just childbirth.

You're not dying." "Stop whining. Call an Uber. I'm busy." He hung up. When I dialed back, it went straight to voicemail. Meanwhile, Pearl was spamming her Instagram feed.

Eight separate posts of Nolan celebrating her birthday at Disneyland. The center photo in every single dump was them kissing.

The excruciating pain drained every last drop of strength from my legs. The notification that he had blocked my number was the last thing I saw on my cracked screen.

Hemorrhaging out on the cold floor, I choked on my last breath, the metallic taste of betrayal the final thing I swallowed.

And even when he finally showed up to the morgue to identify my body, Nolan actually complained to the coroner that I had ruined his mood by purposely dying on that specific day.

Back at the dinner table, with the birthday boy MIA, the guests quickly lost interest and splintered off. I pushed my plate away and left the house.

Nolan, the guy who used to blow up my phone every three minutes, was dead silent tonight. Fireworks popped off in the distance, ringing in the New Year. I felt nothing.

At the stroke of midnight, a massive firework lit up my bedroom window. Nolan, who never posted anything personal, suddenly updated his Instagram.

The photo showed Pearl fast asleep, her head resting peacefully on his shoulder.

The caption was a single word. [Her.] Exactly one minute after it went live, his frat brothers flooded the comment section. [Finally!] [Made for each other, man.] [Couple goals!] I casually doubletapped the photo.

But when I refreshed the feed, the post vanished. He deleted it. A second later, a text from Pearl popped up. [Nolan drove me home, and I accidentally fell asleep on his shoulder.

It's too late for him to drive back, so I told him to crash here tonight.

You don't mind, do you?] I typed a single letter and hit send. [K.] Whatever Nolan did, and whoever he did it with, was no longer my fucking problem.

I was just about to turn off my lamp when a text from Nolan came through. Wow.

Were they coordinating their attacks now? [Pearl's luggage got lost at the airport, and she doesn't have a change of clothes for tonight.

Don't you have a few brandnew Victoria's Secret lingerie sets in your closet? Bring them over for her to wear.] A cold, hollow laugh bubbled up in my throat.

I hadn't even taken the tags off those sets. And he expected me to handdeliver my own lingerie to his precious first love? Who the hell did he think he was?

Chapter 3 I didn't bother replying. I just powered off my phone. But at 10 AM sharp the next morning, the doorbell rang.

Mason opened the door to find Nolan standing on our porch, with Pearl right beside him, holding a stack of premium gift bags. My family enthusiastically welcomed them in.

Nolan had basically grown up in our house since his grandma lived next door; my parents treated him like a second son. Nolan stepped inside and immediately locked his eyes on me.

My mom beamed at Pearl. "You must be Nolan's girlfriend! It's been years. You look absolutely gorgeous." "Thank you so much. You haven't aged a day either," Pearl purred.

She knew exactly how to play the room.

A few sweet words, and my parents were practically eating out of the palm of her hand. "Avery, what are you doing just standing there?" my mom called out. "Come greet Nolan and Pearl." I didn't even look up from filing my nails.

I just waved a hand vaguely toward the kitchen. "Get your own drinks. Or do I need to teach you how a faucet works?" Nolan's expression twisted into something dark and unreadable.

A minute later, while I was in the bathroom, my phone buzzed. A text from him. [Why are you throwing a tantrum?] I left him on read. At lunch, we had a minor seating standoff.

I took my usual spot at the dining table, but Nolan wordlessly pulled out the chair right next to mine. That was Mason's seat.

Mason stared at Nolan, then glanced at the empty chair next to Pearl. "Dude, why are you stealing my spot?

Go sit next to your girlfriend." He grabbed Nolan by the shoulder and hauled him up. After a bit of shoving, Nolan ended up sitting directly across from me.

The second he sat down, the air felt suffocating. I could feel his heavy gaze pinned on me. I kept my eyes glued to my plate and chewed in silence.

Halfway through the meal, his phone rang, and he stepped outside to take a business call. I stared at the empty space on his plate where I used to serve him the best cuts of meat.

I swallowed hard and forced my eyes away, refusing to acknowledge the empty space. When he came back, his eyes darted to his empty plate, then shot up to glare at me.

Mason caught the look and stepped in. "We're all family here, man. No one's stealing your food.

Stop staring at Avery like that." My mom looked back and forth between Nolan and me, a teasing glint in her eye. "Avery," she suddenly announced to the table. "Look at Nolan bringing his girl over.

When are you finally going to bring a boy home for us to meet?" Nolan opened his mouth, but I cut him off before he could make a sound. "If you and Mason know any good guys, set me up.

I'm taking applications." In the past, I would have immediately shot the idea down. Hearing my answer, Mason practically gasped. He slapped his hand onto my shoulder. "Avery!

You're finally seeing the light!

Say the word, and I'll have a lineup of hot guys waiting for you right after dessert." I laughed out loud. "Deal." Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nolan's reaction.

His jaw was clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. His knuckles were white gripping his fork.

Over the sound of our laughter, Nolan suddenly cut in, his voice sharp. "Stop joking around. Pearl is just an old classmate." My mom blinked, startled.

Pearl's sweet smile instantly shattered. Mason, never one to read the room, smirked. "So you're still single? Maybe I should set you up with Avery then." My stomach plummeted.

Nolan slammed his palm into Mason's shoulder. "Shut the hell up. Avery is my sister." That was it. The final nail in the coffin.

I took a slow, grounding breath and forced a perfectly natural smile onto my face. "Yeah, Mason. Back off.

Nolan is like a brother to me." Nolan took Pearl and left right after lunch. We didn't speak for the next few days.

I ate, I slept, and I went out to parties like the world was still spinning on its normal axis. A few nights later, Mason dragged me along to an alumni mixer at a downtown bar.

Chapter 4 Mason forced me to go since I had no plans. I had crawled into bed early and flatout refused. But he wouldn't let it go. "Tonight is a massive milestone for Nolan.

As his sister, you have to be there to witness it!" I didn't find out the real reason until we walked into the private room at the bar.

Pearl was planning to use this mixer to ask Nolan to get back together.

The rumor going around was that ever since she flew back to the States, their chemistry had been off the charts. A reunion was practically guaranteed.

A guy who worked at a highend jewelry boutique swore he saw Nolan picking out a diamond ring two days ago. It was ninety percent likely for Pearl.

I knew most of Mason's frat brothers.

The second I walked in, guys started greeting me, hyping up how good I looked and joking that I should take my pick of the single guys in the room.

I laughed and bantered right back. From across the room, Nolan watched in total silence.

Right before dinner started, Pearl pulled me aside into the hallway. "Avery, I know Nolan treats you so well.

He always listens to you." She batted her eyelashes. "So, when I make my move tonight, could you maybe put in a good word for me?

It'll basically guarantee he says yes." Pearl played the sweet, innocent card without missing a beat, but her core was rotten to the center. She knew exactly how I felt about Nolan.

She also knew I was muzzled because he refused to claim me publicly. She was weaponizing my feelings to twist the knife as deep as it would go.

But Pearl didn't know that my past life had burned every last drop of affection I had for him to the ground. I flashed a smile brighter than hers. "Of course.

Don't worry, I'll be your ultimate wingwoman tonight." Pearl's smile twitched before she turned and walked back into the private room.

At the dinner table, Nolan suddenly lost his damn mind. He started attentively pouring my bourbon and slicing my steak.

He was doing exactly what I used to do when I waited on him like a nanny.

Just as the waiter brought out a freshly grilled Tomahawk steak, Nolan cut a prime slice and moved to place it on my plate.

I immediately covered my plate with my hand and gave him a polite smile. "I'm a big girl, Nolan. I can feed myself.

Give it to Pearl." The piece of steak hovered awkwardly in midair.

Pearl quickly extended her own plate and intercepted it. "Nolan, Avery probably already has her eye on someone in this room.

Stop hovering like a helicopter parent." Right then, guys around the table started standing up, raising their shot glasses to toast Pearl's return to the States.

Just as Pearl reached for her glass, Nolan snatched it right out of her hand. "Pearl gets drunk off a single sip.

I'll take this one for her." He threw his head back and downed the liquor in one smooth gulp. The table erupted in cheers and applause. Nolan kept taking shot after shot.

A flush crept up his neck.

Pearl reached out and placed a hand on his arm, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Nolan, you don't have to drink so much just for me." It was hard to tell if the alcohol was actually hitting him.

He looked down at Pearl, his eyes softening. "It's fine.

You can't handle your liquor, and they're obviously trying to bully you." That single sentence sent a wave of loud oohs and aahs around the table.

I knew right then—the massive milestone was here.

Pearl bit her lower lip, staring up at him with bedroom eyes. "Nolan… I dated a few guys while I was abroad, but I realized something. Nobody compares to you in bed.

Let's get back together, okay?" The whole table lost it. "Say yes! Say yes!" they chanted, slamming their hands on the table. Nolan froze.

He clearly hadn't expected her to drop that line. The atmosphere was perfectly primed. The leading lady had made her bold move. All it took was one nod from the leading man.

A highly anticipated romance, the ultimate power couple, was about to be reborn right in front of us.

Watching them bask in the spotlight, I started clapping loudly. "A gorgeous girl throwing herself at you like that? She's one of a kind, Nolan.

Hurry up and say yes!" Nolan snapped his head toward me, the color instantly draining from his face. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Avery?" His voice cut through the noise. "You're my girlfriend.

Why the hell are you cheering for this?" Dead silence dropped over the entire room. Chapter 5 Mason was the first to snap out of it.

He looked back and forth between Nolan and me, his jaw basically on the floor. "Avery… what did he just call you?" "…Girlfriend??" I let out a smooth, unhurried laugh. "Mason, come on.

Look how much he's had to drink. He's just messing around." Nolan's face darkened. He shoved past Pearl and stalked toward me. I took a deliberate step back.

Right then, the sharp crash of a shattering glass echoed behind him. Nolan whipped his head around and immediately scrambled back.

Pearl's silk dress was ruined, stained dark with spilled red wine. A shard of glass had sliced a delicate, pitiful scratch across her upper thigh.

The bright red blood against her pale skin was a glaring contrast. Nolan's brow furrowed, a muscle feathering along his tight jaw.

He didn't even hesitate before scooping her up into his arms. Pearl shot me a triumphant little sideeye before wrapping her arms tightly around Nolan's neck.

She pouted, her voice dripping with fake hesitation. "Nolan, put me down. Everyone's watching. People are going to get the wrong idea about us.

And Avery looks upset… shouldn't you check on her?" She pitched her voice perfectly—just loud enough for the whole room to hear.

It was a calculated trap, baiting him to publicly declare their relationship. But Nolan just kept his jaw locked tight and stayed silent.

He threw one rushed, conflicted glance in my direction before looking down at Pearl. "Ignore her. Let's get you to a doctor." He carried her straight out the door.

The second the door swung shut, Mason was in my face. "Nolan holds his liquor like a tank and we both know it. Talk.

What the hell is going on between you two?" Knowing Mason's inability to keep a secret, I clamped down on the truth. I shook my head. "Nothing's going on.

Pearl just caught him off guard, that's all." Mason opened his mouth to press the issue, but I waved him off and shut the conversation down. I shouldn't have come tonight.

The second the check was paid, I made my excuses and slipped out.

Walking down the street alone, the sidewalks were packed with laughing couples and groups of friends setting off fireworks.

The whole holiday vibe suddenly felt incredibly suffocating. I shoved my hands into my pockets and sped up, just wanting to go home and pass out.

I was just a block away from my apartment building when Nolan stepped out of the shadows. I quickened my pace, bolting for the front door, but he lunged forward and blocked my path.

I tried to sidestep him. His hand shot out, capturing my arm and yanking me against his chest. In my past life, I would have melted right into that warmth.

I would have buried my face in his shirt and sobbed until I couldn't breathe. But this time? I shoved him off me with a cold, hard thrust. "We're right outside my building, Nolan.

What if my parents look out the window and get the wrong idea?" He froze. His hand, which had been reaching for me again, slowly dropped back to his side. I truly didn't get it.

If he was so ashamed of being seen with me, why the hell did he insist on holding on? He glared at me. "What the hell was your problem tonight?

Why were you cheering with the rest of those idiots?" I gave a careless shrug. "Was I wrong?

Pearl is obviously still obsessed with you." "And you basically gave up your whole life to save her back then. I think you guys are a perfect match.

Getting back together makes total sense." I was stating cold facts, but Nolan's massive ego twisted my words into something else.

A smug, arrogant smirk finally cracked through his anger. "And what about you? Did you forget your place?

Who was it that used to say if I got too close to another girl, a certain someone would—" "Nolan." I locked eyes with him, pronouncing every single word with icy precision. "We are broken up." His smirk vanished.

Absolute panic finally set in. "Who said we broke up? I didn't agree to that!" "Didn't agree to what?" Before I could respond, Mason's loud voice boomed from behind us.

I whipped around with a bright, easy smile. "Nolan wants to buy Pearl a ring!" "He tracked me down just to ask what style girls like.

He said if I didn't give him a serious answer, he wouldn't let me go inside." Nolan's face went dead pale.

Chapter 6 He grabbed my arm, about to say something, but Mason cut him off. "If you're buying it for her, go ask her yourself.

Why the hell are you bothering Avery?" Mason squinted. "Or what, are you trying to buy a ring for Avery?" At that last sentence, a flush crept up Nolan's neck.

I pried Nolan's fingers off my arm, one by one. "Since you've decided to get back together with Pearl, you should hurry back to her. Her leg is hurt.

She needs someone to baby her." "Avery, do you even hear what you're saying?" Nolan's voice spiked, echoing down the street and drawing stares from people passing by. "Who said I was getting back together with her?!" "Jesus, Nolan, what is your problem?" Mason stepped between us. "Whether you get back together with Pearl is your own damn business.

Why are you yelling at Avery?" Seeing Nolan's jaw clench again, I shoved Mason's shoulder toward the building. "It's freezing.

Let's just go inside." I hadn't even kicked my shoes off when my phone started ringing. Nolan. I hit decline. It rang again. He was relentless.

Finally, a text popped up. [What time are you going to sleep? I'm coming over.] [I have a lot to say. Let's just talk, okay?] I didn't want to deal with his bullshit.

I powered the phone off completely. But right as I flicked off my bedside lamp, a loud knock hammered against my bedroom door. "Avery! Someone's here for you!

Come out!" Mason yelled. I yanked the duvet over my head. "I'm asleep! Tell them to come back tomorrow!" "It's Pearl!" My eyes snapped open. My brow furrowed in the dark.

What the hell did she want with me? Pearl stood in the doorway, swinging a few custom Hermes and Chanel shopping bags.

A smug, triumphant smile plastered her face. "I picked up some cheap perfume while I was shopping in Paris.

I was going to use them as tips for the hotel maids, but I figured giving them to you as charity is just as good." The second the bedroom door clicked shut, Pearl's fake smile vanished.

I wasn't in the mood to play nice either. I cut straight to the chase. "You didn't come here just to drop off trash. What do you want?" Pearl dropped the sweet act.

She threw herself into my desk chair, crossing her legs and tilting her chin up as if she already owned the place. "Avery, I'll stop beating around the bush.

I know you and Nolan got pretty close while I was abroad." She inspected her manicure. "But I'm back now. I'm the one he's going to marry and have kids with.

So I'm going to need you to back off and keep your distance." A massive question mark practically materialized over my head. "Are you delusional?

Nolan and I are just like siblings." I pointed at the door. "Are you done? Get out.

I'm going to sleep." I barely knew this girl, and having her barge into my room to mark her territory was seriously pissing me off.

But Pearl's face contorted into something ugly and vicious. "Drop the pathetic innocent act!

If you weren't sitting there being an eyesore tonight, Nolan would have taken me straight to a hotel!" She leaned forward, her voice a harsh hiss. "What the hell are you pretending for?

He's obsessed with you. Are you blind?" If this were my past life, I would have looked her dead in the eye and confidently claimed Nolan as mine.

But this time around, the rosecolored glasses were off. I knew exactly where Nolan's loyalties really lay. Pearl was still his priority. "I'll say it one more time.

Nolan is basically my brother." My voice was ice cold. "That's what he is now, and that's what he'll always be.

That is never going to change." I crossed my arms. "If you want him so badly, go throw yourself at him.

Stop wasting your time harassing a bystander." Pearl's mouth opened and closed. My words had effectively slammed the door on her little performance.

She couldn't drag a single word out. Finally, she grabbed the doorknob and stormed out, leaving those stupid shopping bags on my floor.

But after she left, I didn't feel that rush of victory. The air in the room just felt heavier. The memories came flooding back.

In my past life, right after Nolan and I announced our engagement, Pearl had come looking for me privately too.

I thought she was going to throw a tantrum, but she was terrifyingly calm.

She had pulled out her phone and started swiping through her text history with Nolan, showing me every single message from the day they met. I watched it all.

From the polite introductions, to the latenight talks, to the inside jokes.

I read about their first date, his first confession, the exact moment they became official… Chapter 7 Even after they officially broke up and Pearl moved abroad, they kept up a steady stream of "friendly" texts that dripped with unresolved tension.

I remembered how Pearl had watched the light die in my eyes, a sickeningly triumphant smile curling her lips. "See?

I'm the only one he actually loves." She had leaned in closer, dropping her voice. "Who cares if he marries you? His heart will never be yours.

He's only marrying you out of duty!" Back then, I was stupid.

I stubbornly believed that cold digital receipts could never compete with the fleshandblood woman sleeping next to him every night. I was dead wrong.

Every single word she spit out became a prophecy. I stared at the ceiling until the sun came up, my eyes dry and burning. A loud knock broke the morning silence. "Avery!

Remember how you said you were taking applications?" Mason yelled through the door. "One of my frat brothers just flew back from overseas. He's in med school, same field as you.

Want me to set it up?" I threw the covers off. "Hell yes!" Out with the garbage, in with the new.

The absolute best way to scrub Nolan from my brain was to pack my schedule with new people. My mom actually teared up watching me get dressed up, saying I was finally growing up.

I forced a bitter laugh in the mirror. Yeah, all thanks to Nolan. Mason's friend moved fast. He got my number and texted me immediately.

His contact photo was a sleek black panther, which weirdly matched my own cat avatar.

He told me he secured a reservation for lunch at that exclusive Michelinstarred place downtown—the one that usually requires a threemonth waiting list. [How did you even pull that off?] I texted back, genuinely impressed. [Mason told me you liked fine dining.

Called in a favor.] A guy who actually did his homework and had the power to make it happen? My interest was officially piqued.

On the Uber ride there, my phone screen kept lighting up. Nolan. Incoming call after incoming call. I aggressively hit decline.

When he realized I was screening his calls, the texts started rolling in. [Avery, where are you?] [I'm coming to find you. We need to talk.] [Avery, please just text me back.

I don't want things to be weird between us.] I rolled my eyes and flipped my phone to Do Not Disturb. The maître d' led me to a private, sunlit table near the back.

Sitting there was Alistair. He wore a crisp, tailored suit and wirerimmed glasses, looking effortlessly sharp and dangerously handsome.

He definitely didn't look like a typical stressedout med student. He didn't come emptyhanded, either.

Before the appetizers even arrived, he slid a sleek velvet box across the table. I snapped it open and gasped. It wasn't jewelry.

It was a custom, handforged tactical folding knife. The handle was inlaid with raw black obsidian, and my initials were meticulously engraved right into the dark metal blade.

It felt heavy and perfectly balanced in my palm. Alistair watched my eyes light up. A slow, arrogant smirk pulled at his lips. "Forged it myself." "You're a med student.

When do you have time to play blacksmith?" I stared at him, my jaw practically on the table.

His eyes darkened with amusement, though a charming, almost boyish dimple appeared on his cheek. "My grandfather was a custom weaponsmith.

Picked it up when I was a kid." I ran my thumb over the obsidian grip, thoroughly impressed. A doctor who could also forge lethal weapons? This guy was full of surprises.

Lunch flowed with an easy, natural rhythm.

The conversation flowed perfectly, and by the time dessert arrived, we were bantering like old friends. "You drop a custom tactical weapon on me for our first date," I teased, leaning across the table. "I have no idea how I'm going to top this.

I can't even draw a decent stick figure." Alistair chuckled, his deep voice sending a nice little shiver down my spine. "Don't sweat it. Just agree to a second date.

That's payment enough." I was just about to say yes when a horribly familiar voice cut through the air, shattering the vibe into a million pieces. I whipped my head around.

Nolan stood right behind my chair. He looked like he had been dragged behind a speeding truck. His designer shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was a messy disaster. "Avery.

Do you have any idea how hard I've been looking for you?" Nolan braced his hands on his knees, gasping for air like he had sprinted ten blocks just to track me down.

Then, Nolan lifted his head. His eyes landed on Alistair sitting across from me. Nolan's face instantly hardened, his eyebrows crashing together in a lethal scowl. Chapter 8