The soft patter of rain against the window was the only sound in the room as Grace hurriedly pulled on her clothes. Her heart was pounding, not from fear but from the whirlwind of emotions and realizations crashing down on her.
The previous night had been unlike anything she had ever experienced, and now, faced with the aftermath, she didn’t know how to feel.
She grabbed her phone from the bedside table, the brightness of the screen almost blinding her in the dimly lit room. Her breath hitched and she froze in her place when she noticed Rune stirring slightly in the bed, his arm reached out to the empty space she had just vacated.
She stood there while holding her breath, waiting to see if he would wake up, but he only sighed softly and settled back into sleep. Looking at his peaceful expression, she felt something deep stirring within her.
She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the warm feeling blossoming in her chest.
Focus, Grace. Get out before he wakes up. She reminded herself and crept toward the door. She kept her steps as silent as a shadow, and slipped out of the bedroom.
She silently made her way toward the door and pulled it open, ready to step out. But her plan to quietly leave came to an abrupt halt when she noticed two familiar figures standing outside her own apartment, just down the hall.
She instantly ducked back into Rune’s apartment, leaving the door slightly ajar as she peeked out.
It was Kevin and Jasper.
Her heart sank as she watched them talking. Kevin, as usual, had a calm yet authoritative air about him, while Jasper looked impatient with his foot tapping against the floor.
"She’s not answering the door," Jasper grumbled, ringing the bell again. "What if something happened to her?"
Kevin frowned, checking his watch. "It’s past ten. She’s never this late. Let me call her."
Grace’s eyes widened in panic. She quickly fumbled with her phone and set it to silent mode just as Kevin’s name appeared on the screen. She barely suppressed a sigh of relief and cut the call before sending a message.
[Let me sleep. Don’t disturb me until noon.]
Through the crack in the door, she watched Kevin read the message aloud. In response, Jasper snorted. "Since when does she sleep in?"
Kevin shrugged. "If she says leave her alone, we leave her alone. Let’s go. We will check back later."
As the two men walked away, Grace sagged against the doorframe and her nerves finally settled. She watched the hallway for a moment longer to ensure it was clear before stepping into the open.
Time to get out of here before anything else goes wrong, she thought.
But just as she took a step toward the door, a strong hand gripped her arm and pulled her back inside. She turned sharply, only to find herself face-to-face with Rune, his piercing eyes locking onto hers.
Grace froze as she met Rune’s questioning gaze. His deep blue eyes held an unreadable expression, and for a moment, she felt like a child caught sneaking out of class. His hand was warm and firm on her arm, grounding her amidst her panicked thoughts.
"Where are you going?" His voice was soft but carried a hint of curiosity.
She hesitated and her mind raced to think of an excuse that wouldn’t sound ridiculous. "I... I just needed to check something outside," she stammered, avoiding his eyes.
Rune raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. His gaze flickered to the slightly ajar door, then back to her, and he sighed. "You are trying to sneak away, aren’t you?" he asked, his tone teasing but with a touch of hurt.
She swallowed hard, realizing she had underestimated how perceptive he was. "It’s not like that," she said quickly. "I just didn’t want to disturb you. You were sleeping so peacefully."
He let go of her arm and leaned against the wall beside her while crossing his arms over his bare chest. Grace couldn’t help but notice how the morning light highlighted his well-defined muscles and the tattoos, making her cheeks warm in embarrassment.
Then she noticed him smirking as he caught her wandering gaze. "You know," he said, his voice laced with amusement, "you are not very good at lying."
Grace felt a mix of frustration and guilt. She looked away, crossing her arms defensively. "Fine. I didn’t want to wake up to... awkwardness," she admitted. "I thought it would be better if I left before things got weird."
Rune’s smirk softened into a genuine smile. "Awkwardness? Ms. Blackwood, we are both adults. What happened last night was mutual. There’s nothing awkward about it."
His words caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. "Unless you regret it," he added quietly.
Regret. The word echoed in her mind, and she realized she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt. The events of the previous night had been unexpected, even reckless, but she couldn’t deny the connection she had felt with him. Still, the age difference and her own insecurities made her hesitant.
"I don’t regret it," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it’s... complicated."
Rune tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "Complicated how?" he asked. "Because I’m younger than you?"
Grace blinked, surprised by his bluntness. "Well, yes," she admitted. "You are four years younger than me. Even though that’s not too big of an age difference, you are actually very young... in your early twenties."
"You are afraid." He suddenly stated as a realization dawned over him, his gaze turning serious as he took another step toward her, closing the distance between them. Gazing into her eyes, he asked, "What are you really afraid of though?"
She would have loved to deny his words that felt like an accusation, but she knew that he was right. What she didn’t expect to hear were the words he spoke next...