Aria's POV

I knew Caleb was different the first night he walked me home. He didn’t talk much, didn’t hover, didn’t try to pry into things I wasn’t ready to share. He just walked at my pace, steady and quiet, as if his presence alone was enough. And somehow, it was.

For days after, he kept showing up at the tavern. Sometimes he sat at the same table, sometimes in a different corner, but he was always there when I finished. Without ever asking, he made it a habit to walk me back to the ...