Kieran didn't like what he was feeling.
Not at all.
It was new.
Uncomfortable.
And completely out of his control.
He watched from a distance as Amara laughed again.
That same laugh he hadn't heard in so long.
And now?
It wasn't because of him.
"Relax," his friend said. "It's just a conversation."
But Kieran knew better.
Because he had seen this before.
This was how things started.
Simple.
Easy.
Harmless.
Until it wasn't.
Meanwhile, Amara felt it too.
Not jealousy.
But awareness.
She could feel his eyes on her.
Even without looking.
And that made everything more complicated.
"You seem distracted," the guy in front of her said.
Amara smiled slightly.
"Just tired."
But that wasn't the truth.
The truth was—
She knew Kieran was watching.
And part of her…
Didn't hate it.
Later that evening, she walked alone, trying to clear her thoughts.
But of course…
He found her again.
"Who is he?"
No greeting.
No hesitation.
Just the question.
Amara stopped.
Then turned slowly.
"Excuse me?"
"The guy you were with," Kieran said.
His voice was calm.
But his eyes?
Not at all.
"That's none of your business," she replied.
That hit.
Hard.
But this time…
He didn't back down.
"It is if it involves you."
Amara frowned.
"You don't get to say that."
"Why not?"
"Because you left," she said firmly.
Silence.
That truth landed between them.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
Kieran took a step closer.
"And now I'm back."
"That doesn't change anything."
"It changes something."
"What?"
He looked at her.
And this time…
There was no holding back.
"I don't like seeing you with someone else."
Her heart reacted instantly.
But she kept her expression steady.
"That's not my problem."
"It is if I'm trying to fix this."
"There's nothing to fix," she said.
But her voice…
Wasn't as strong this time.
Because deep down…
She felt it too.
That pull.
That connection.
That unfinished story between them.
And no matter how much they tried to ignore it…
It wasn't over.