“Then try it,” Hayden said, pushing his cheese tart toward my mouth.


    I I instinctively turned my head, but he raised it again, giving me that look that said he wasn’t letting


    it go until I took a bite.


    With a sigh, I gave in and took a bite.


    Honestly, it wasn’t bad, but it didn’te close to the sweet fruit tarts I had. Definitely not worth


    trading for.


    Still, with Hayden watching me so closely, I forced a smile and mumbled through a mouthful of


    cheese tart, “It’s really good.”


    “I wanna try yours, too,” he said,pletely ignoring his own tart.


    Without even thinking, I shoved the strawberry tart behind my back like some kid guarding their


    favorite candy.


    Hayden cracked up. “Rx, I just want a bite, not the whole thing. Look at you, freaking out. You’re


    being really stingy.”


    Okay, maybe I was being a little dramatic. It was just a tart.


    Fine, he could have some.


    I pulled out the box of mini fruit tarts. Five in total, all different vors. “Here, take your pick.”


    But Hayden didn’t even nce at them. His eyes were locked on the one in my hand. “I want that


    one.” I froze.


    That was the one I’d already taken a bite from.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Before I could even react, Hayden leaned in and took a bite, snagging the part with the strawberry


    right off the top like it was no big deal.


    By the time he finished chewing. I just stared at the half–eaten tart in my hand, not sure if I should


    still eat It or toss it.


    Hayden didn’t say anything. He just turned and started walking ahead.


    I stared at his back, then nced down at my half–eaten tart.


    No way I was throwing it out.


    I quickly shoved thest bite into my mouth, hoping to finish before he noticed. But as soon as I


    looked up, Hayden turned back, his expression amused.


    He was grinning in a way I’d never seen before.


    My face flushed–again, for what felt like the hundredth time.


    “It’s too sweet. I need some water,” Hayden said, nodding toward a nearby drink stand, breaking the


    awkwardness.


    ????


    get it,” I offered, probably sounding way more generous than I felt.


    After what happened with the tarts, I didn’t even try to pick something out with him. I let him choose


    whatever he wanted and paid for it right away.


    “You’re not getting anything?” he asked, sounding either genuinely confused or just messing with


    me.


    Nope, not thirsty,” I replied, then made the payment and took off, not even waiting for a response.


    Hayden followed behind me in silence. He didn’t say a word, and after a while, it almost felt like he


    wasn’t even there anymore..


    But every time I nced back, there he was–keeping a steady pace just far enough behind me. Not


    too close, not too far.


    Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stopped and turned to face him. “Why are you walking behind


    me? This is Seavora. What if you get lost?”


    I could barely keep a straight face after saying that. He wasn’t a kid, after all.


    “I can see you better from behind,” Hayden said, his words stopping me cold, heat rushing to my


    face again.


    Lately, it felt like I was blushing every five minutes. They say that could be a medical thing. Maybe I


    should see a doctor.


    But I couldn’t let Hayden see how flustered I was, so I kept my voice steady. “Who said you need to


    watch me? Walk in front, and if you want to eat something, tell me now. Otherwise, the food’s gonna


    be gone.”


    So far, all he’d had was a bite of two tarts and some water.


    “What do you want to eat?” Hayden asked, totally out of the blue.


    I barely had a second to think before he added, “Whatever you eat, I’ll eat.”