They sat down together.
That was it.
That was the moment Lily knew she was in trouble.
The table wasn't small. There was space. Enough distance to breathe.
But it didn't feel like it.
Lily sat quietly, hands folded on her lap, shoulders slightly drawn in. She kept her eyes lowered, focusing on the pattern of the table, the edge of her tray — anything but him.
Her heart wouldn't slow down.
This is nothing, she told herself.
Just people eating together.
Jake's voice filled the silence easily.
"So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "you disappear yesterday and suddenly we're eating without you?"
Mira scoffed.
"I didn't disappear. I was busy."
"Busy ignoring us," Jake replied dramatically.
Mira grabbed a napkin and threw it at him.
"Eat your food."
Lily watched them quietly.
They moved around each other easily, as if this closeness wasn't unusual.No awkward glances, no hesitation—just quiet smiles, small gestures, subtle touches that felt ordinary, effortless.
It was the kind of ease that made it seem like moments like this weren't rare at all, like they belonged here, like it happened every single day.
She liked watching Mira laugh. It made the space feel warmer.
She didn't join in.She couldn't.
Because every time she shifted even a little, she felt him.
Not touching or looking.
Just… there.
She could sense him the way you sense someone standing behind you — even without turning around.
Aiden sat calmly, eating slowly, listening more than speaking. He nodded once when Jake complained about classes. Said a short reply when Mira teased him.
Nothing more. Like Nothing special.
And yet Lily felt like she was sitting too close to a quiet storm.
Her fingers curled slightly into her sleeves.
Don't look, she warned herself.
If you look, you won't be able to stop.
Jake suddenly leaned forward again.
"You're unusually quiet today," he said to Mira. "You sick or something?"
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"Me? You're the one talking too much."
"I talk because no one stops me."
She smiled and shook her head.
Lily let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
The normal conversation helped. It grounded her.
But then—
She felt it.
A presence shifted beside her.
Soft, almost unnoticed. Nothing dramatic—just quietly there.
Just a subtle awareness.
Her heart fluttered painfully.
She didn't turn her head.
But her eyes lifted on their own.
Just slightly.
And there he was.
Just looking in her direction, calm and unreadable.
Her breath caught.
She looked away instantly, cheeks warming.
Why am I like this?
He's not doing anything.
Her mind raced.
He doesn't even know me.This is just a memory clinging too hard.
But knowing his name now made it worse.
It made him close.
Too close.
She pressed her lips together, trying to steady herself.
She didn't speak.Didn't smile.Didn't move.
She didn't look good with words.
Never had.
But her eyes had already betrayed her — lifting before she could stop them, revealing more than she ever meant to say.
She sat there, quiet and small, surrounded by voices and laughter…
Trying to understand how a simple lunch had turned into something her heart couldn't handle.
The conversation drifted on for a moment longer.
Then—
Aiden spoke.
His voice was calm, low, almost careful.
"About that day," he said, glancing at Lily briefly before looking away again, like he didn't want to overwhelm her.
"I'm sorry. I scared you."
The table went quiet.
Jake blinked once, then grinned.
"Ohhh," he said slowly, leaning back. "That day."
Aiden shot him a warning look.
Sharp.
Silent.
Jake raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. I'll shut up."
Mira's gaze moved between them, curious now.
She hadn't expected Aiden to speak up like that. Especially not like this.
Lily froze.
Her mind went blank.
That day.
The memory rushed back — the sudden closeness, the panic, the warmth of a hand covering her mouth so she wouldn't be seen.
She almost forgot how to breathe.
She didn't trust her voice.
So she nodded.
Just once.
Small. Careful.
Aiden noticed.
"That's… good," he said softly, relieved.
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then his lips moved — barely.
No sound came out.
Not enough for anyone to hear.
Not even Lily.
"Winslow."
The name stayed with him.
Unspoken. Untouched.
Across the table, Mira tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Did you say something?" she asked.
Aiden looked up, the moment already locked back inside him.
"No," he said easily, a soft, unreadable smile crossing his face.
Jake glanced between them.
"Huh. Thought you were about to confess or something."
Aiden didn't answer.
And Lily smiled—just a little, like the thought had slipped past her guard.
She couldn't stop it.
It bloomed across her face so suddenly, so brightly, it surprised even her.
Jake noticed immediately.
"Wow," he said, squinting at her. "Did you see that smile? That's dangerous bro."
Mira glanced at Lily and let out a quiet laugh.
"Honestly," she said, "you're adorable."
Aiden looked at her — really looked at her this time.
Not intensely.Just warmly.
Lily's heart nearly exploded.
Her ears burned.
Her chest felt too full.
She stared down at the table again, hands curling into her sleeves, trying to calm the chaos inside her.
This is too much, she thought.
Jake chuckled.
"She's going to short-circuit if you keep doing that."
Aiden hesitated for the briefest moment, his gaze steadying again.
"Jake. Stop with the damn jokes."
But Lily knew.
Her heart was beating so fast she was sure everyone could hear it.
And she couldn't wipe the smile away — no matter how hard she tried.
End of chapter 8