Magnolia stays suspended for a beat longer, her head tipping back, eyes closed, a serene expression softening her features. She makes it seem effortless.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

Her performance ends and I step outside, leaning against the wall just beyond the door, where I wait for her. Minutes drag by, each one longer than the last, and doubt creeps in.

What if she slipped out another way?

Just as the worry takes root, the door swings open. She steps into the night, laughing at something the guy beside her says. He’s too comfortable in her space. The easy way he walks next to her, the familiar brush of his arm against hers, the smile he throws her way—it all sets my teeth on edge.

Is this him?

Is this the fucker she’s moved on with?

My jaw clenches, hands balling at my sides as a bitter edge settles into my chest.

I don’t like it.

Not one damn bit.

Magnolia’s eyes lift, our gazes locking, and everything changes. Her smile and laughter die, and her entire body goes stiff. Her lips part, and those hazel eyes widen in disbelief… then narrow with something.

What is that? Shock? Anger? A little of both?

She stops mid-step, staring at me. For a split second, I swear I see something softer—something like longing—but it vanishes as quickly as it appears.

He looks between us, his brow furrowing. “Everything okay, Mags?”

Mags.

I hate that too.

Magnolia blinks, her expression shifting into something flat.

“Yeah. He’s just someone I used to know.”

Damn. That stings.

She stops a few feet away, arms wrapping around her torso like she’s bracing for impact. “Alex.”

I nod, shoving my hands into my pockets, unsure what to do with them. “Magnolia.”

Her classmate lingers a step behind her, eyes bouncing between us like he’s watching a tennis match.

“I need to talk to you.”

Her brow lifts, and for a moment, she just stares at me. “So now you want to talk?”

Her tone is sharp, edged with something that digs under my skin and festers. It sounds like she’s implying I’m the one who went radio silent, the one who disappeared without a trace.

Frustration bubbles up inside me, but I force it down. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for months.”

She lets out a humorless laugh, rolling her eyes. “Right. You sure have a funny way of showing it.”

I blink, thrown off by the bitterness in her words. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She shakes her head, looking away, jaw tight. “You know what? Don’t worry about it. Not that you ever did.”

I step closer, lowering my voice. “Don’t tell me not to worry about it. Not after everything.”

Her eyes snap back to mine, blazing with anger. “I can’t believe you have the nerve to come here… or to say that to me.”