Page 19

The evening air was crisp as Amara and Liam walked through the dimly lit streets outside the rink, their footsteps echoing in the silence.

The city lights glowed softly, casting a warm, ambient glow around them.

They'd been talking about everything and nothing, slipping from one topic to another with an ease that felt so natural it was almost unnerving.

There was something magical in the quiet between them, something neither of them dared to disrupt.

Amara could feel her heartbeat quickening, her senses sharpened to every subtle movement, every stolen glance he gave her.

She found herself wondering, even hoping, if he felt the same pull, the same tension simmering beneath the surface.

They stopped at a small overlook where the city stretched out below, a mosaic of shimmering lights against the dark sky.

Liam leaned against the railing, gazing out, his profile illuminated by the city glow.

Amara stood beside him, closer than she had dared before, drawn to the quiet strength he exuded.

"This view is incredible," she whispered, though her eyes were on him, not the skyline.

"It is," he replied, glancing over at her, his gaze lingering. She could see something in his eyes, something deep and unspoken, and it made her breath catch.

They stood in silence, the electricity between them growing with each passing second. Finally, Liam turned fully toward her, his expression soft, almost vulnerable. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment as he studied her face.

"Amara..." he began, his voice barely above a whisper, as though he were saying her name for the first time.

Her heart skipped, and she tilted her head, drawn in by the quiet intensity in his gaze.

She felt the space between them shrink, every rational thought disappearing as he inched closer, his hand gently resting on her cheek.

She closed her eyes, her breath mingling with his, and felt the warmth of his presence, the magnetic pull that brought them together in ways she couldn't explain.

They were just inches apart, the world fading into nothing around them, and she felt herself melting into the moment, ready to close the distance.

She could feel the weight of his touch, the gentleness in the way he held her, as though she were something precious, something fragile.

Her heart raced, every nerve on edge, her senses flooded with him.

But then, just as their lips were about to meet, he stopped, his hand dropping from her cheek as he took a step back, breaking the spell. The cool night air rushed between them, and the sudden space left her feeling exposed, vulnerable.

He ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted, as though he were battling something inside himself. "I... I shouldn't have done that."

Amara felt a pang of disappointment, her cheeks flushing as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Liam... what's wrong?"

He looked away, his jaw tight, struggling to find the right words.

"It's just... my life is complicated, Amara. This... whatever's happening between us, it isn't simple." His voice was quiet, edged with regret. "My world—it's full of things I wouldn't want you to deal with. People, expectations, complications. I don't want to drag you into that."

She took a step closer, her voice soft but determined. "Liam, I'm not afraid of complications. I know who you are, and I'm willing to try—if you are."

He looked at her, a mix of longing and restraint in his eyes. "I don't want you to get hurt. Being with me... it's not easy. I don't want you to sacrifice anything because of me."

Amara felt her heart ache at the uncertainty in his voice, at the way he was so quick to put her needs before his own. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "Maybe it's my choice to make, Liam. You don't have to protect me from this—from us."

He looked down at her hand, covering it with his own for a moment before letting go, a pained smile crossing his face.

"You deserve someone who can give you everything, Amara. And I'm not sure I can. I've spent years building walls, managing expectations, and there's so much about my life that you shouldn't have to deal with."

"But don't I get to decide what I can handle?" she countered, her voice barely a whisper, but the conviction in her tone was clear.

For a moment, they stood in silence, caught between the desire they both felt and the fear that held him back. He looked at her with a softness that made her heart ache, his fingers brushing over hers one last time before he pulled away, his expression a mixture of regret and something deeper.

"I wish... I wish things were different," he murmured, his voice laced with a sadness that sent a chill through her.

She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I do too."

The silence hung heavy between them as he stepped back, putting distance between them. They stood there, on the edge of something neither of them was quite ready to name, and the unsaid words lingered in the air, filling the night with a bittersweet tension.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone under the city lights, her heart aching with the loss of something that had barely begun. As she watched him go, she felt the weight of his words settle over her, but somewhere, deep down, she knew this wasn't the end.

Because for the first time, she was certain of one thing: whatever was between them was real. And though he had walked away tonight, she had a feeling their paths were far from finished crossing.