Page 16 of His To Unravel (His & Hers Duet #1)

TWELVE

olivia

The buzz of my phone pulls me from the mirror as I finish getting ready, Nathaniel’s name lighting up the screen. It’s early for our usual texts, and my stomach flutters as I swipe open the message.

NATHANIEL

Headed out soon?

I smirk, sensing the tension behind his question. His messages always carry a subtle edge, like he’s hoping for me to cancel and ask to spend the evening with him instead.

Yes, Mr. Caldwell. I’ll be heading out with friends. I promise I will survive.

There’s a pause, and I watch the three dots flash as he types his response.

I can picture the slight crease in his brow, the possessiveness he’s still too careful to admit outright.

He isn’t the type to openly demand my time—at least, not yet.

But I feel it. That underlying resistance to sharing me.

NATHANIEL

You’d have a much better night with me, you know.

I laugh, glancing at my reflection. His words stir a thrill in me, a sense of excitement blooming beneath the usual nerves.

Part of me wants to give in, but I know it’s important to have a balance—keeping a part of my life separate, something that isn’t entirely woven around him, even as I feel myself falling deeper.

Tempting, but Carolyn would probably hunt you down if I canceled.

NATHANIEL

There’s only one woman I want coming for me.

A blush creeps up my neck. I’m not sure what I expected him to say—but it wasn’t that . Before I can decide how to respond, another message comes through.

NATHANIEL

At least tell me you’re wearing the necklace.

I reach for the pendant around my neck, my fingers brushing over the initials engraved on the back.

It still surprises me—how beautiful it is, how bold the gesture was.

A gift that felt like too much…and yet, somehow, exactly like him.

A private reminder of the line I’m walking.

Of how easy it is to fall when he’s the one catching me.

I snap a quick selfie and send it to him.

I made a promise to you, didn’t I?

I feel a thrill as I wait, like I’m anticipating something I hadn’t realized I wanted so badly until now. His response appears almost immediately, a short, unassuming phrase that induces a rush of satisfaction through me.

NATHANIEL

Good girl.

The words send a shiver down my spine, warmth spreading to my core.

I run my fingers over the pendant again, feeling the weight of its meaning. It’s more than just a gift—it’s his way of staking a claim. And maybe I should be more concerned that it doesn’t bother me in the least.

My phone buzzes again.

NATHANIEL

You look beautiful, by the way.

A small, surprised smile creeps onto my face. I glance back at my reflection, seeing myself through his eyes.

I’ve chosen a simple outfit: dark jeans that hug me perfectly, paired with a cropped burgundy sweater that reveals just a hint of skin at my waist. It is a little more daring than my usual style, but tonight feels like a night to let loose, to be a little bold.

And knowing he’s noticed too adds an excitement that wasn’t there before. I’m not used to letting someone see me this way, or to feeling this much from something so simple. But here I am, eager for his praise. It makes me feel more confident, more certain.

I type my response carefully.

Thank you, Nate. I dressed with you in mind.

NATHANIEL

Good. Though I’d still rather be the one by your side tonight .

His words wrap around me, and I fight the tug of temptation to abandon my plans and run straight into his arms.

You’ll survive one night without me.

NATHANIEL

Will I? I guess we’ll see. Be safe, text me, and think of me.

I reread his last text twice. Three times.

This, I remind myself, is why I need to be out with my friends tonight. I need space from the pull of him—even though I know I’ll carry him with me anyway. Wrapped around my neck. Pressed into my thoughts.

A night at The Lantern is exactly what I need: a warm, intimate bubble of dim lights and soft music, set apart from the constant demands of campus.

Low-hanging lanterns cast a golden glow over the mismatched wooden tables and booths, where groups of people lean close over their drinks, their laughter softened by the bar’s gentle ambiance.

Framed black-and-white photos of Boston in its heyday line the exposed brick walls, adding a nostalgic charm.

In the corner, the bar is lined with reclaimed stools, and the bartender is already expertly pouring craft beers and mixing literary-inspired cocktails.

Everything about The Lantern feels like an escape from the outside world, a place where the weight of academia melts away, if only for a night.

I spot Sophie and Carolyn tucked into a cozy booth near the back, waving me over with wide smiles. Landon and Tyler are wedged in on the other side, drinks in hand. Tyler gives me a quick nod, while Landon barely looks up—just enough to acknowledge me before going back to nursing his beer.

“Liv!” Sophie greets me enthusiastically as I slide into the seat beside her.

“Finally we can have some girl talk!” Her eyes widen as they land on my necklace, the diamond twinkling in the candlelight.

“Excuse me, but what is that sparkler hanging around your neck?” She shares a knowing look with Carolyn, who grins.

Carolyn, ever the observant one, leans in with a playful smile. “Well, well, well… Let me guess—the enigmatic Mr. Caldwell has something to do with that?”

Heat rises to my cheeks, but I nod, trying to downplay the rush of emotion that pulses through me just thinking about the huge gesture.

“Yeah,” I admit softly. “It was a gift.”

“ A gift ,” Sophie repeats, her brow arching. “Subtle. Low-key. Practically a slap bracelet.”

Carolyn barks out a laugh. “You know what that is? That’s a statement piece… In more ways than one.”

The approval in their voices reassures me. Gone is the skepticism I’d heard before, the concern. Just genuine excitement—like they’re happy to see me being treated so well.

I glance down, touched by their reactions, but still feeling a tinge of embarrassment at how taken I am with him.

“You know,” Carolyn says, resting her chin on her hand, “I wasn’t sure about him initially, but it’s obvious he’s serious about you. And that necklace?” She gestures toward it with her glass. “That’s not casual. That’s claiming.”

I laugh, studying my hands as I toy with the edge of a napkin. “He doesn’t like to leave any room for ambiguity, that’s for sure,” I reply, heat building inside me at the memory of Nathaniel’s simmering intensity. I know they can see it too.

But not everyone at the table is enjoying this exchange. Landon sits stiffly beside Tyler, his eyes flicking between the girls and me. His expression is guarded and his usual easy smile is nowhere to be seen.

Oblivious to the tension, Sophie adds, “I have to say, Liv, he’s clearly swept you off your feet. And if I were you, I’d be enjoying every second. You deserve it.”

I smile, grateful for her support, even as a knot twists in my stomach. I want to let myself fully enjoy this time with my friends, this sense of normalcy, but my mind keeps slipping back to Nathaniel, the memory of him calling me a “good girl” echoing in my mind like a whisper only I can hear.

But with some effort, I manage to stay in the moment, resisting every urge to pull out my phone and text Nathaniel. It isn’t easy—every time I think of him, a sense of longing tugs at the back of my mind, like a thread tethering us, stretched across the city.

Nevertheless, I tell myself that tonight is supposed to be mine. A reminder of who I am outside of him.

I laugh with Carolyn, listen to Sophie’s endless stories, and even let Tyler’s dry humor pull a few reluctant smiles from me. I manage to feel grounded, if only for a few hours.

As the evening winds down and our group slowly disperses, Landon catches my eye from across the table and offers to walk me back.

The streets are quiet, the buzz of the bar fading behind us as we take a familiar path back to campus. The silence between us is comfortable at first as we walk side by side under the soft glow of the streetlights.

But as we reach a quieter stretch of the road, Landon’s pace slows, his gaze dropping to the ground.

“Liv, I need to say something,” he starts, voice low. His eyes flick to mine, earnest and vulnerable. “I’ve… I’ve had feelings for you for a while… I know I probably should have said something soon er, but I guess I always thought maybe, someday, you’d look at me that way too.”

I feel my breath hitch, caught off guard. We’ve known each other for years, and I’ve always valued Landon’s loyalty and friendship. But I never thought he harbored feelings for me—not really. Now, as I meet his gaze, guilt begins to stir beneath my surprise.

Perhaps I’ve been willfully blind, choosing not to see what might have been there all along. I figured if he had wanted more, he would have said something, and since he hadn’t, it seemed easier, safer, to assume there was nothing there.

However, in this present moment, I wonder if I should have asked him, or at least thought about it, instead of leaving him waiting, hoping. I feel a heaviness press on me, urging me to respond with care, to tread carefully along the lines of our friendship.

“Landon,” I say gently. “I care about you a lot, but…not in that way. You’re one of my closest friends, and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that.”

He looks away, his shoulders tensing. For a moment, I think he’ll let it go. But then he sighs, his expression hardening, and turns back to me with a determined look in his eyes.

“I can’t just ignore these feelings, Liv. I’m not going to give up that easily,” he declares, his tone shifting from gentle to resolute. “I know you’re with Nathaniel now, but it’s only a matter of time before he breaks your heart. I’ll be here to pick up the pieces when he does.”