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The hotel elevator chimed softly, and the doors slid open. Jane stepped out first, one hand on the stroller, the other holding Jasmine's small fingers. Junior had fallen asleep sometime during the walk, his tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm. His Gucci sneakers peeked out from under the blanket Jasmine had tucked around him.

"That was fun," Jasmine said, her voice still buzzing with energy. "Can we go again tomorrow?"

"Maybe," Jane said gently. "If the weather's nice."

"I'm gonna catch a fish next time. A big one."

"There weren't any fish, remember?"

"Then I'll catch a squirrel."

Jane laughed softly. "I don't think squirrels live in fountains."

Jasmine considered this. "Then I'll catch a leaf."

"That's more realistic."

They reached the door of the Royal Suite. Jane fumbled for the key card—Kyle had given her one before they left, just in case. She swiped it, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

The suite was quiet. Not the empty kind of quiet, but the settled kind. The kind that meant people were home but not moving much.

Cassandra was sprawled across the couch, one arm draped over the back, her face soft and relaxed. She was asleep. Her chest rose and fell in slow, even breaths. The magazine she had been flipping through lay open on the floor, pages crumpled.

"She must have been tired," Jane thought. "Probably jet lag catching up."

Jasmine tugged Jane's sleeve. "Is Cassie sleeping?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Let's be quiet."

Jasmine nodded solemnly and pressed a finger to her lips.

Jane parked the stroller near the window, making sure Junior was still comfortable. He didn't stir. His little mouth was slightly open, and a tiny bubble of drool formed at the corner.

"At least someone's getting rest."

She turned toward the kitchen.

Ella stood at the counter, leaning against the marble with one hip, a protein bar in her hand. She had already eaten half of it, and there was a smear of chocolate at the corner of her mouth. Her hair was slightly damp, curled at the ends, and her cheeks held a faint flush.

"She looks… different," Jane thought. "Happier? More relaxed?"

Ella's eyes met Jane's, and a wide smile spread across her face.

"Welcome back," Ella said, her voice warm and bright. "How was the great outdoors?"

Jane blinked, surprised by the energy. "Good. Quiet. Jasmine tried to catch a squirrel."

Ella laughed—a real laugh, not the teasing kind. "Did she now?"

"He got away," Jasmine said, marching over to Ella. "But we saw a fountain. And a bird. And a leaf that was really big."

"A big leaf?" Ella crouched down to Jasmine's level. "How big?"

Jasmine spread her arms as wide as they would go. "This big."

"That's enormous."

"I know." Jasmine beamed. "Can I have a snack?"

"Check the fruit basket. But wash your hands first."

Jasmine ran off toward the bathroom. Ella straightened up and dusted off her knees, then turned back to Jane.

"Cassandra's out cold," Ella said, nodding toward the couch. "She wore herself out."

Jane tilted her head. "She seemed fine when we left."

"She got… energized. Then it caught up with her." Ella took another bite of her protein bar, chewing slowly. Her eyes sparkled with something Jane couldn't quite name.

"Her mood is definitely elevated."

Jane assumed it was the vacation. The excitement of London. The freedom of being away from whatever normal life waited for them back home. She had no reason to think otherwise.

"Probably for the best," Jane thought. "I don't think I could adapt to whatever chaos they've been up to."

Ella finished her protein bar and dusted her hands. "Where's the little man?"

"Asleep in the stroller."

"Good. Let him stay that way." Ella walked over and pulled Jane into a warm hug. "I'm glad you're back."

Jane hugged her back, surprised by the affection. "I was only gone an hour."

"Felt longer."

Jasmine returned from the bathroom, hands dripping. "I washed them."

"Good girl." Ella patted Jasmine on the head, her fingers ruffling the dark hair. "Now, tell me about this fishing adventure."

Jasmine's eyes lit up. "Okay! So there was this fountain, right? And Jane said there weren't any fish, but I looked really hard, and I saw—"

Ella took Jasmine's hand and led her toward the couch on the other side of the suite, away from Cassandra. "Show me. Use your hands."

Jasmine launched into an animated retelling, her small arms waving, her voice rising and falling with the drama of the hunt for imaginary fish. Ella nodded along, asking questions, her attention fully on the little girl.

Jane smiled and turned away.

Kyle stood in the doorway of the bedroom.

He was dressed now—dark jeans, a soft grey t-shirt, his hair still slightly damp. His face was relaxed in a way it hadn't been all day. The tension around his eyes had softened. He looked almost peaceful.

*He's handsome,* Jane thought. *When did he get so handsome?*

Kyle walked toward her. His steps were quiet, unhurried. When he reached her, he didn't speak. He just wrapped his hands around her waist, fingers resting on the small of her back, and pulled her gently against him.

Jane's breath caught.

He leaned down and kissed her.

The kind of kiss that wasn't demanding, wasn't rushed. It was the kind of kiss that said "I'm here, I see you, I've missed you."

Jane melted into it.

When he pulled back, her cheeks were flushed. Her lips tingled.

"Hiii," Jane said, her voice small and breathy.

Kyle smiled. "Hi."

"I missed you," Kyle said.

Jane's blush deepened. "I missed you too."

They stood there for a moment, foreheads almost touching. Jane could feel his heartbeat through his chest—steady, calm.

"He's different right now. Softer and more present."

Kyle pulled back just enough to look at her face. His thumb traced small circles on her hip.

"Jane," he said.

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking," Kyle said.

"That's dangerous."

He laughed—a real laugh, quiet and warm. "Maybe. But listen." He paused, choosing his words. "I need to treat you differently. You're not like the others."

Jane's stomach flipped. "In a bad way?"

"No. In the best way." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're softer. Gentler. You don't push. You don't demand. But that doesn't mean you don't need attention."

Jane looked down at her feet. "I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not a burden. You're a priority." Kyle tilted her chin up. "And I haven't been treating you like one lately. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

"I know. But I want to." He took a breath. "Jane, how about a date? Just you and me. Tonight."

Jane's eyes widened. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yes, princess. I want you alone tonight."

"Princess, I love it when he calls me that,"

The word settled in her chest like something warm and golden. No one had ever looked at her the way Kyle was looking at her now—like she mattered. Like she wasn't just the quiet one in the corner.

"I'd like that," Jane whispered.

"Good." Kyle kissed her forehead. "I'll make reservations. Somewhere private and quiet."

"Not too fancy?"

"Fancy enough." He smiled. "You deserve fancy."

Jane buried her face in his chest, hiding her smile. Her heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking.

"Tonight. Just us."

Behind them, Ella was still listening to Jasmine's fountain adventure, her voice bright and encouraging. Cassandra slept on. Junior dreamed in his stroller.

And Kyle held Jane like she was something precious.

The truth was, even Jane needed reassurance at the end of the day and hearing it out loud did a lot for her confidence.

-

Maya walked through the art school's main entrance, her boots echoing on the polished stone floor. Leo was beside her—not touching, not crowding, but close enough to be annoying.

"Remember the deal," Maya said without looking at him. "You keep your mouth shut."

Leo held up both hands in mock surrender. "Not a word. I'm a ghost."

"You're not a ghost. You're a shadow. Ghosts are quiet."

Leo grinned but didn't respond. He had agreed to the condition because being near her was better than being away from her. Even if it meant silence. Even if it meant watching her from a few feet back like a lost puppy.

They walked past the administrative offices, past the student gallery, past the bulletin board covered in flyers for exhibitions no one would attend. The hallway narrowed, then opened into a small alcove lined with wooden mail slots.

Maya's mailbox was near the bottom. Row seven. Slot fourteen.

She knelt down and pulled it open.

Inside, as expected, was the library's monthly coupon—a small slip of paper that allowed her to check out books for six weeks instead of the usual three. She needed it. Her research project on Baroque sculpture had hit a wall, and the books she required were thick enough to stop a bullet.

But there was something else.

A letter.

Cream-colored envelope. No return address. Just her name—*Maya*—written in neat, unfamiliar handwriting.

She stared at it for a second, turning it over in her fingers. The paper was expensive. The kind that came from a stationery store, not a printer.

*Who would leave me a letter?*

She slid the coupon into her jacket pocket and unfolded the note.

The message was short. Vague. Unsettling.

"Someone who knew you from before would like to meet you. Library. 4 PM. Come alone."

Maya's jaw tightened.

"Yeah, I'm definitely not doing that," she muttered.

But she had to go to the library anyway. Her books were there. Her research was there. The only quiet place on campus where she could actually think was there.

"Which means there could be someone waiting for me. Someone I don't want to meet."

She checked her phone. The screen glowed with the time.

[2:30 PM.]

"I guess I still have an hour and a half to read before I deal with… whatever this is."

She folded the note and slipped it into her pocket beside the coupon.

Leo appeared at her shoulder. She hadn't heard him move—he was always doing that, hovering just outside her peripheral vision like a thought she couldn't shake.

Before she could react, his hand shot out and snatched the note from her fingers.

Maya didn't flinch. Didn't even blink. She was too tired of Leo to be surprised anymore.

"Give it back," she said flatly.

Leo stepped back, holding the note at eye level. His grin faded as he read. His brow furrowed. His lips pressed together.

Then he laughed. A strained, uncomfortable sound.

"Haha! What is this? An indirect confession?"

Maya stared at him.

"Confession?"

The word landed in her chest like a stone dropping into still water. She had been thinking of the note as a threat. A mystery. An intrusion.

But Leo saw it as something else.

"Someone wants to meet her and Leo thinks—"

She looked at his face. The forced smile. The tightness around his eyes. The way his fingers crumpled the edge of the paper.

"He's jealous."

And that was when it hit her.

She could use this.

If she went to the library at 4 PM—if whoever wrote the note actually showed up—and if that person was a man…

Leo would see. Leo would realize she wasn't interested in him. Leo might finally back off.

"It's worth a shot."

"Give me the note, Leo."

He hesitated. Then handed it over.

Maya folded it carefully and tucked it into her back pocket.

"I'm going to the library now. You can come, but you stay in the other section."

Leo blinked. "The other section?"

"You heard me. You will read there today. You don't come in, not until I come out."

He opened his mouth to protest but closed it and nodded.

"Fine," he said quietly.

Maya turned and walked toward the library, Leo trailing a few steps behind.

She didn't look back.

"4 PM," she thought. "Whoever you are, I hope you're worth the trouble."

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