XAVIER'S POV

After the dinner with Melissa, we didn’t say much on the way back to the hotel. There was something in the air—not awkwardness, exactly. Just this sense of everything hanging in balance. She mumbled a quick “goodnight” at the lobby and disappeared down the corridor before I could even reply.

I didn’t chase her. Didn’t need to.

We had our moment out there on the ice. That was enough.

My room was quiet, almost too quiet. I kicked off my shoes and dropped onto the bed, ...