And I swear the air around us stills.
We don’t move for a long moment.
Then I say, “I would’ve.”
“I know.”
The walk back to base is quiet.
We don’t talk.
We don’t touch.
But we’re close. Her shoulder brushes mine with every step. Her scent is this wild mix of citrus and old leather and something warm I forgot I knew how to miss.
And when we reach the shadow of the base entrance, where the lights dim just enough to blur the rules, I stop walking.
So does she.
I don’t think.
I just move.
And she doesn’t stop me.
Not right away.
Her lips are soft and familiar and fire all at once. Her fingers twitch against my jacket like she might hold on—or push away—and for a second, we’re both falling, untethered, nineteen again and desperate and stupid with hope.
Then she breaks the kiss.
Just barely.
Her forehead rests against mine.
Her breath’s shaky.
“We can’t,” she whispers.
But she doesn’t walk away.
And neither do I.
CHAPTER 34
NOVA
The walk home is a slow burn.
Kaz doesn’t say much, and neither do I. We don’t need to. The silence between us hums—taut, electric. Every glance carries weight. Every brush of his arm against mine sends sparks crawling up my spine like static with intent.
The air's cooler now, soft with night. A breeze drifts through the Daveros corridors, smelling faintly of metal and desert and blooming biolumina. We pass under flickering lights and over quiet pavement, and all I can think about is the way his fingers curled when I kissed him. The way he didn’t push or pull—just melted into me like he’d been holding that breath for years.
I want to say something. I don’t.
We reach my door too fast.
The keypad glows amber as it scans me. The lock hisses. I turn toward him, keys still in my hand, and before I can think better of it, the words are out.
