ect to think about

lm voice, the way his eyes seemed to notice things most peop

erself it

. Another job she cou

e dim space, the silence felt heavier than usual. She dropped her bag

s her l

eful budgeting.

ced at h

essa

hadn't repl

r for instant noodles. As she waited, her eyes drifted to the window. Fr

live among

only wat

she arrived ten mi

the same quiet elegance. No loud musi

gray sweater instead of a shirt and slacks. The si

rly again,

tly. "I like to

do

g her in. The scent of c

homework," he said.

be nice,"

arrangement of mugs, the way everything had its place. It didn't feel

ne with Elliot?" s

es

tion. No e

idn't

tween them. The silence wasn't awkward, but it wasn't empty either. It

ood with him,"

lied. "He just needs

readable cro

re," he sa

Elliot appeared, backpac

abella, less grumpy

nquer histor

ned. "I

a noticed Nathaniel lingering nearby, pr

n, he asked questions, en

on ended, he p

e back tomorr

inked, caug

ants me to," s

at Nathaniel. "

ed once. "Then

the room, Isabella

to decide so qui

ave," Nathan

yes met

tle pull, like something uns

k you out

r was cool. The city hu

y questions," Natha

bo

. Most pe

that people share when they're

ed her a

ifferent,

softly. "I

aid calmly

d with her as s

l desk, counting money and calculating exp

uld be

g about it u

laptop and sear

unusual

e closed

her life once. She

s study long after th

ella

saw her application. Known exactly

d been take

nervous but composed, he felt

il

self it was

s had consequences

lliot, when she spoke about

lanned to l

t

ure he coul

g days fell

served from a distance. Conversations

ed to fee

ned her more tha

fety was a

d already lost too m