ATHENA

"Thank you for saving me the other night." I smile at Zayan, who looks at me with a confused face.

I was afraid for my life, and now I realize my biggest fear is dying and leaving my young son. God, that wrecked me more than the cold did.

I was lucky to have been found early, and aftern did the scans, he discharged me, and I''m back at work.

"You had some concussion, but I''m d it was temporary and all is good now. Don''t stress and I''ll also move you from ER for a while untill you''re better." He had said.

I would have argued but that would have been selfish. So I reluctantly agreed.

"Saving you from what?" Zayan pulls me back.

Iugh.

Typical Zayan.

"I know you don''t like it when I say thank you but truly. I appreciate you."

"Athena. You''re confusing me. What are you talking about?" He asks as the waiter ces my te of steak, which Zayan picks up and cuts into small pieces before giving it back to me.

"Are you serious right now?" I ask, setting my fork down.

Zayan''s brows furrow, his hands resting on the edge of the table like he''s trying to solve a puzzle.

"What happened?" He asks.

My heart skips a beat, and I just stare at him, trying to read his face, trying to piece together the truth.

If not him... then who?

I search my mind, but everything from that night is still a blur. Cold rain, the impact, and the feeling of hands around me. Strong, warm hands. Someone blowing my hair. And a voice. A voice that now that I think about it doesn''t sound like Zayan''s.

But I shake my head and force a smile.

"It''s nothing," I say, brushing it off like it doesn''t matter.

Zayan watches me, his gaze studying me but quiet. Like he knows I''m hiding something. Like he wants to push, but won''t.

"Okay," he says slowly. "But if something did happen, you can talk to me. You know that, right?"

I nod, forcing a tight smile. "I know."

We return to our food in silence.

Or, at least, I try to. I cut a piece of steak, chew, then swallow. But I can feel Zayan''s eyes on me.

Again. And again.

I nce up, and catch him staring, then he quickly looks away, pretending to be

interested in his water ss now.

I stab another piece and lift it to my mouth.fn7cdb Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel/fn7cdb

He''s still watching me.

I set my fork down with a clink and narrow my eyes at him.

"Okay. Seriously. What is it?"

He blinks. "What?"

"You''re staring at me like I''ve grown a third head. If you have something to say, just say it. You''re making it awkward."

Zayan''s lips curve into a slow, nervous smile. "You caught that, huh?"

I raise an eyebrow.

He sighs, shifting in his seat, then leans forward slightly, his fingers curling around the edge of the table. "I''ve been meaning to say this for a while now, but I wasn''t sure if the timing was right."

My heart skips a beat because I know that tone, and I know that look.

"I care about you, Athena. More than a friend should. More than just some person you run into at cafes or call when you''re bored." He gives a soft, dryugh. "I know you have a lot on your te and I know you''ve been hurt. But I want to be the one you can trust..."  s

"Zayan," I smile. "I do trust you, and of course you''re not just some friend I call when I''m bored."

But he doesn''t give in to the joke. His eyes remain serious as he watches me,

He leans forward, grabbing my hand and cing it in the middle of his palms.

"Athena, I like you. More than I''ve let on. I know we''ve kept things light

than just

and casual. But want to be more just a familiar face in your life. I''m risking it all and crossing the line you''ve drawn."  s

My breath catches.

"I want to date you. Properly. Dinners, movies, everything. I want to be someone you can count on, not just when things fall apart, but when they''re good, too. I want to be a part of your life, babe. As your

man."

s

I stare down at my te, feeling a strange weight press on my chest.

Zayan is hot as hell. Kind. Loyal and safe. Maybe it''s time I stopped chasing ghosts and gave something real a chance.

"I... don''t know if I''m ready," I admit quietly. "I''ve been through a lottely."

"I know," he says. "That''s why I''m asking now because I''m not expecting perfection. I just want a chance."

I look up at him, searching his face. There''s no pressure in his eyes, no expectations. Just hope.

And maybe a part of me is tired of feeling alone.

"Okay," I whisper. "Yes."

His smile lights up instantly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

There''s a small pause between us, a charged silence filled with something

delicate and new.

This is a risk we are taking. I''m broken, and Zayan is perfection.

"I can hear you thinking. Focus on me." Zayan says in a voice so soft I feel like I imagined it.

His thumb brushes over my knuckles, and I feel the warmth of it all the way to my chest.

His other hand moves slightly, like he''s about to cup my cheek. His eyes drop to my lips, slow and careful.

Then he leans in.

For a second, my mind goes nk. I''m not sure if I should move or stay still. So

many things are going wild in my head it''s so loud.

But just as his lips are about to touch mine,

A voice cuts through the air like a hot knife through butter.

"Well, this is cozy."

My heart jerks in my chest.

We both look up at the same time.

Luca stands over our table, a smirk ying on his lips like he''s just stumbled upon

a secret worth gold. His eyes gleam with mischief, as if he''s been watching longer

than he should have.

But it''s not just him.

Standing slightly behind, a few paces back with hands in his pocket, fire and

anger in his eyes, and a jaw so tight, I''m shocked his teeth are not falling off is my ex husband.

Luca turns to him, smug.

"Isn''t it, Alex?"