Anya’s POV
For a breath, maybe two, I was close enough to hear his heartbeat, to smell that familiar cologne — dark, expensive, the one that used to drive me crazy back when he was still Chase… back when I still loved him without knowing it would destroy me.
The shock ran through me like electricity. My skin tingled under his fingers, stupid and alive in a way I didn’t want. I lifted my head slowly, too slowly, and our eyes met. His gaze was intense, unreadable, like he was fighting something inside himself too. Neither of us spoke. The world seemed too loud — cars honking, people talking — yet too quiet at the same time.
It hurt — how natural this felt. How familiar.
Then he let go.
Just like that. No word. No emotion. He stepped back, face calm again like the moment meant nothing at
