?


    I stood close enough that my voice dropped to a soft, teasing lilt. It was on purpose I wanted to see how far I could push him.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    They say men are terrible at resisting a little flirting. Time to test the theory.


    "Your ce," I murmured, adding just enough suggestion.


    But Xander didn''t even blink. Cool as ever, he stepped back, putting a safe gap between us. "Let''s go to yours."


    It was almost irritating how unshakable he was, like Hayden had been when we first met. Always calm, always in control, no matter how hard I tried to trip him up.


    I took him back to my apartment, and while he got to work in the kitchen, I stayed in the living room, stealing nces at him.


    He tied on the apron Hayden used to wear. The way he moved-washing, chopping, everything methodical and precise-it hit me like déjà vu. For a split second, it felt like Hayden was right there.


    I let myself believe it, just for a moment.


    But then reality crept in like always, poking holes in my fantasy, and the cycle started all over again. Believe, doubt. Doubt, believe. Rinse, repeat. Curled up on the couch with my knees to my chest, I stared at Xander, totally lost in my own head, when my phone buzzed. Yuna.


    "Keira, you''re not asleep, right?" she asked, her voice careful.


    "Nope, waiting for dinner," I said, not taking my eyes off Xander.


    "Thiste? You haven''t eaten yet? What''d you do-takeout or cooking?"


    I flopped onto my side, making myselffortable. "Cooking."


    "You''re cooking?" Yuna asked. "If Hayden were here, he''d never let you cook for yourself." She hesitated, then added, "Keira, have you talked to him recently? I still can''t get through. It''s making me nervous."


    "Yeah, we''ve been in touch," I said, barely paying attention as I watched Xander stir the pumpkin cream soup.


    Three stirs. Exactly three.


    Hayden used to do that-every single time he made cream soup. Not once or twice, but like it was hardwired into him. And now Xander was doing it too.


    Was that even possible? Just a coincidence?


    I was so thrown I didn''t even catch what Yuna said next. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, drifting toward the kitchen. "Hayden..." The name slipped out without thinking.


    Xander turned to me. "Hmm?"


    Yuna''s voice lit up on the phone. "Wait, are you calling Hayden? Is he back?"


    I froze under Xander''s curious stare, then quickly ducked my head and stepped onto the balcony. "No," I said, my


    voice t.


    "Then why''d you say his name?" Yuna teased.


    "I miss him," I mumbled, keeping it vague.


    She sighed, soft and almost pitiful. "I miss him too. When''s heing back?"


    I''d lied to her so many times already. One more, and she''d probably stop believing me altogether.


    My eyes drifted toward the kitchen, catching Xander''s faint reflection in the balcony ss. "Soon," I said quietly. "Soon?" Yuna pressed, not letting up. "Like, how soon? Days? Weeks?"


    I bit my lip. "In the next couple of days."


    Her voice brightened immediately. "Really? Then I''ll go with you to pick him up!”


    I froze. I hadn''t exactly nned that far ahead. Where was supposed to take her to "pick him up"?


    "You don''t have to do all that," I said quickly. "When he gets here, we''ll visit you together."


    “Alright,” Yuna said. "Just promise me you''ll bring him to see me right away."


    “I promise,” I said, just as Xander shut off the stove.


    "I''m about to eat. Get some rest and don''t stay up toote," I said, cutting the call short with a quick reminder.


    Xander walked out of the kitchen, carrying the food. The smell hit instantly-warm, cozy, like something you''d dream of on a rainy night.


    I''ve eaten at the best ces, tried every fancy dish you could imagine, but none of it ever felt like this. Like home. As the scent of pumpkin cream soup filled the room, my chest tightened. My eyes stung, and I swallowed hard. It wasn''t the food itself-it was the feeling. The warmth. The kind offort I hadn''t had in what felt like forever.


    And then there was Xander, standing there with Hayden''s face, steady and familiar. For a second, it was like Hayden had found his way back to me. Chapter 689