REJECTED WEAK MATE-LILA

sidewalk. She tugged her jacket tighter around herself, feeling an odd sense of unease settle in the pit of her stomach. The closer she came to her

shook it off, certain that it had just been her mind playing tricks on her. But still, the watched fee

ring unease as she took a deep breath and unlocked the door. Just as she stepped

this hour? Her heart pounded with speculations: had she been f

knocking came again this time more insistent. Taking a shaky breath, Lila opened the door

ayes, her new friend from the hospital. L

y starting to seep away as relief washed o

y to drop by unannounced. I just. wanted to check on you. I know you said you'd bee

eally. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I might've pan

ortable space. "Hope I didn't scare you too much. Just thought maybe some company would do you good." She se

he door, finally allowing herself to relax completely for

, fragrant blend filled Lila with a sense of comfort she hadn't felt in ages. For a few

, breaking the silence. She turned to Lila, whose eyes had filled with gen

and the sudden trust in Olivia. There was something so genuine about her, kind-a quality t

th much caution. "I had to leave so many things behind, so many people. And I

ve a way of catching up, but that doesn't mean we have to face them alone." She reached out and

ss washed over her toward Olivia. "Thanks, O

Olivia filled the apartment with the reassuring electricity of her presence, and for the first time in a long while, L

f one about to leave. "Look, Lila -- if you ever

smiling gratefully. "I

ng her eyes and letting the residual warmth of her friend's visit set

om earlier flickered in the back of her mind. A k

senses on alert, but Lila thought it m

his impossible confrontation, the calm she struggled so desperately to maintain shattered in an

nd

t set her pulse racing. His eyes were a storm: frustration, relief, longin

ged, the word little

said with an undertone of a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "I f

t she had believed-or maybe just desperately hoped-that he would give up on finding h

u go," he continued low and fiercely. "I have loo

ately to be that girl-to know that their connection they'd once shared was real; to believe in this promise of pro

this time to say with a firmer voice. "I lef

that she hadn't seen in quite some time. "Lila, please... I know things we

ions. "But it's all so different now. I have a li

you walk away from me again. Do you know what it was like, thinking I'd lost you? Thinking that

ed to keep them at bay. She took a further step back, needing space to breathe, to thi

pered almost imploringly. "Come back wit

ander, it's not that simple. So much has happen

takes, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if I have to. But do

She had tried to move on, tried to leave behind the pain and the betrayal. But seeing him here, hearing the

"You know it's because of him I had to leav

. I'll protect you. Whatever it takes,

Still, fear clung to her, remi

me to figure this out," sh

t going anywhere. Not without you." His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face

hand back-a look that said he was more determ

is gaze never leaving hers. "I won't push y

in the doorway, her heart pounding while she