The Shift

Evelyn should have walked away.

That would’ve been the smart thing to do. The safe thing.

But something about the way Adrian looked at her, the way his presence wrapped around her like a storm she couldn’t escape—it made her stay.

And she hated that.

He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “You’re thinking too much.”

Evelyn arched a brow. “And you think too little.”

Adrian smirked. “Not when it comes to you.”

Her pulse skipped. Just for a second. But that was long enough.

He noticed.

He always noticed.

Evelyn sighed, rolling her shoulders back. “Is this a game to you, Adrian?”

His smirk faded. Good.

She needed him to understand that she wasn’t some toy he could play with until he got bored.

“No,” he said, his voice lower now. Softer.

It should’ve reassured her. It didn’t.

Because when Adrian Westwood softened, it wasn’t weakness—it was dangerous.

A different kind of power. A kind she wasn’t prepared for.

Evelyn took a step back, needing to breathe, but Adrian followed.

His gaze darkened, his fingers brushing lightly against her wrist. Not holding. Not trapping. Just there.

And for some reason, that was worse.

“You’re scared,” he murmured.

Evelyn scoffed. “Of you?”

“No.” His lips twitched. “Of this.”

Her jaw clenched. She wanted to deny it. Wanted to roll her eyes, say something sarcastic, turn this moment into something less than what it was.

But she couldn’t.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

She had spent years building walls, perfecting the art of distance, making sure no one ever got too close.

And now here he was.

Standing too close. Feeling too close.

“I don’t do this,” she admitted, forcing her voice to stay even.

Adrian didn’t ask what she meant. He already knew.

He didn’t say anything at first, just studied her, as if trying to decide whether to push or let her go.

Then, finally—"Neither do I."

Her breath caught.

He meant it. She could hear it.

And that changed everything.

She wanted to leave. She didn’t.

She wanted to speak. She couldn’t.

For the first time in a long time, Evelyn didn’t know what to do.

And Adrian?

He was patient.

Because for once—for once—he wasn’t the one chasing.

She was.

Even if she didn’t realize it yet.

But Evelyn wasn’t ready to admit that. So instead, she forced herself to move—turning her back on him, walking away with a controlled grace she barely felt.

Adrian let her go.

For now.

But the moment she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

“You’ll come back.”

Evelyn didn’t turn around.

Didn’t respond.

But the worst part?

She wasn’t sure he was wrong.

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Author’s Note

"And just like that, the distance between them disappears." They both knew how to push—but neither of them knew how to stop. What happens when the game turns real?

Spicy Noodles (Serving stories hotter than your best mistakes.)

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