ns-especially around Julianna. She was different from anyone I'd known, a force of nature wrapped in mystery and allure.

ing shadows over her face. Her usual confident stride was replaced by something softer, som

r voice low, almost he

d by the vulnerability in her tone. Julianna was nev

eplied, motionin

a moment, there was silence between us. It wasn't unco

her eyes meeting mine, dark and searchi

sing where this might be going

ed. Tired of pretending that everything's fine, that I can handle it all on my own.

anna had always been the strong one-the one who never let anyone

me, her breath catching as I reached for her hand. "You don't have to pretend

it too. The pull between us that neither of us had acknowledged until now.

myself crumbled in an instant. The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as if we were

d their way to her waist, pulling her closer, and I felt the tension between us ignite. I didn't want to think about consequence

ull her even closer. Her breath hitched as I kissed her again, deeper this time, more ur

g for air. I looked at her, my mind racing. This was dangerous. This wasn't ju

d fierce soul, had a way of making m

ice barely audible. "I'm not...

ushing a strand of hair fr

th the same unspoken longing. "Bu

we couldn't do this. But another part of me, the part that had been

y voice low and s

, I knew this was