Khalid couldn’t hold back any longer. In one swift motion, he closed the distance between them and pulled Ashlyn into his arms, his grip firm but tender.

Ashlyn froze, her breath catching as Khalid’s sudden movement caught her off guard. Khalid had always been rather restrained and gentle, his affection quiet and measured—never like this. This was new—raw, unfiltered, and so intense it left her reeling.

Pressed against Khalid’s chest, Ashlyn could feel the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat, each thud echoing her own. His arms tightened around her, as if he could shield her from the world—or maybe keep her from slipping away.

“Ashlyn,” Khalid murmured, his voice rough with emotion, “I thought my past would scare you off. So I didn’t explain much to you.”

Ashlyn blinked, his words hitting her like a punch to the chest. Anger flickered through her, but it was quickly drowned out by a wave of joy so bright it left her breathless.

She looped her arms around his waist, her fist lightly thumping his side. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, her voice teasing but tender. “Why would I ever be scared off?”

The truth hit her like a tidal wave, and before she could stop herself, tears spilled over, but they were the good kind—the kind that came from a heart too full to hold it all in.

Khalid’s smile softened, his arms tightening around her as if she were his anchor—the one thing keeping him grounded in a world that often felt too cold.

It was funny, really—how something as simple as a conversation could unravel even the tightest knots of misunderstanding. If it hadn’t been for Katelyn, they might’ve walked away from each other—two ships passing in the night, never to cross paths again.

The thought alone was enough to make their chests tighten. A pang of sadness flickered through them, sharp and fleeting. But luckily, they’d caught themselves in time.

Khalid’s arms tightened around her, his voice low and earnest. “Ashlyn,” he said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept things from you.”

? ?: ?ν?

Ashlyn’s chest tightened, emotions swirling inside her like a storm she couldn’t quite name. She sniffled, her voice muffled against his chest. “Thank God Katelyn made me chase after you,” she said. “Otherwise, I might’ve lost you for good.”

Earlier, Ashlyn had been curled up at home, tears streaming down her face as she replayed every moment in her head. Now, she was here—wrapped in Khalid’s arms, the weight of the world feeling a little lighter. To an outsider, they might’ve looked like a pair of lunatics, their reunion playing out like something straight out of a soap opera.

Khalid’s grip eased just enough for him to lean down, his forehead resting against hers. Their breaths tangled, the space between them charged with something quiet but electric.

He nodded, his voice soft but firm. “Yeah,” he said, “we owe her one.” Gratitude swelled in Khalid’s chest, warm and steady.

But in that moment, Ashlyn’s expression shifted, her eyes locking onto his with quiet intensity. “Khalid,” she said, her voice steady, “I need to know everything about your past. No more secrets.”

She couldn’t risk another misunderstanding—not when they’d come so close to losing each other. The emotional whiplash was exhausting—too much to go through again.

Khalid exhaled, the weight of his past pressing down on him. “It’s… a lot,” he said, his voice heavy. “Let’s get in the car. I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

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