Page 33 of Symphony for Lies

“My world has been cold and dark, but the time I spent with you made me who I am today.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Tomorrow, I’ll give you something in return.” Biting my lip, I wrapped my arms around him.

He didn’t do anything for a moment, and thenhe returned the hug. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“For your kind words,” I murmured. “And because you need some warmth.”

“Ooooh, la la!”

I flinched and took a step back. My friends stood by the door, grinning.

“We thought you two were taking forever, so we came out to check on you. But it looks like we interrupted something.” Tiana wiggled her brows.

“We’re taking you home.” Stacy held up my purse.

“But if you’d rather stay with Mr. Handsome here…” Layla teased with a wink.

My cheeks felt like they were on fire.

And then, there was a quiet clearing of a throat, which made me turn around.

Zane.

He was just standing there.

A cigarette rested between his fingers; it was burning down slowly, like he had forgotten about it entirely. But that wasn’t what stole the breath from my lungs.

It was his presence.

He leaned against a pillar with effortless elegance as if the entire world around him ceased to matter.

His black jeans were perfectly fitted, a leather jacket was casually draped over his broad shoulders, and the white shirt underneath clung in all the right places. His face was flawless, sharp as a blade.

His eyes made the ground feel unsteady beneath my feet. Too intense… too piercing.

It felt like he had been watching methe entire time.

Zane flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot, and stepped toward us. His movements were calculated, leisurely, and dangerous like he had all the time in the world.

“What a view.” His voice was deep, low, and laced with mockery.

His gaze swept over Tristan, my friends, and then me.

Something indiscernible flickered in his expression, but I felt it.A silent weight pressed against my chest.

Slowly, Zane’s eyes dropped to my shoulders, and his jaw tensed.Tristan’s jacket.

My heart skipped another beat.

He hated it.

Why? I didn’t know, but it was unmistakable.

Zane took his time gazing at me, traveling back up my body before meeting my gaze.

The air between us shifted in a strange, uneasy way.

“Hi, tutor.” The words sounded almost bored, but something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.“Didn’t know you were tutoring Tristan, too.”