Lily POV
I immediately took a deep breath as soon as I left his office , feeling like I could finally breathe properly again. The fresh air was a welcome relief after the suffocating tension of our conversation—or whatever that had been. My mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of his shifting demeanor and the questions that remained unanswered.
The sudden shrill ring of my phone made me jump, my heart skipping a beat as I fumbled to pull it from my pocket. When I saw Kai's name on the screen, my face broke into an involuntary smile, all thoughts of mysterious lecturers temporarily forgotten.
"Hello," I answered, unable to keep the happiness from my voice.
"Hey," Kai's familiar voice came through the speaker, warm and intimate in a way that made my chest tighten with longing. "
