Chapter 31
Damon's POV
Elena's social media. A photo—her making a wish over the cake.
The image seared itself into my brain.
This was the first birthday I'd missed. In twelve years. Every year before this, I'd been there. And this year, I'd chosen the northern lights with Scarlett instead.
Unease twisted in my gut.
Elena was changing. Pulling away. She'd stopped calling. Stopped seeking me out.
Something's slipping through your fingers.
I shoved the thought away. Elena was just going through a phase. She'd come back. She always returned to how she was.
Scarlett's lips found mine again, interrupting my thoughts.
My hand explored beneath her towel, touching smooth skin.
The towel slipped to the floor.
Dim light outlined the curves of her body. She was beautiful. Sexy. Forward. Everything I'd once wanted.
My lips touched her shoulder—
Elena's face flashed through my mind again.
Her smile in the photo. Her cold voice on the phone.
Like ice water dumped over my head.
My body went rigid instantly. All desire shut off like a switch, vanishing completely.
"Fuck." I shoved Scarlett away roughly, standing up, breathing hard.
She was still lost in arousal, suddenly pushed aside, kneeling on the couch, her expression shifting from intoxicated to disbelieving.
"Damon? What's wrong?"
"Sorry." I turned my back to her, voice hoarse. "I'm... a bit tired. You should go rest."
I even picked up the towel for her, wrapping it around her. Mechanical movements. Like handling business.
She stared at me, emotions in her eyes I'd never seen before. Confusion, and a flash of anger. But she said nothing.
"Okay... get some rest then."
She stood, clutching the towel tight as she walked toward the bedroom.
The door closed softly.
I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the aurora flow across the sky, my throat working as I exhaled deeply.
What just happened?
My body had clearly responded. Scarlett's pheromones, her body, her initiative—everything was in place.
But in that moment, I refused.
Not a physical refusal. A deeper, instinctive rejection.
I pressed hard against my temples.
I rationalized that my reduced desire for Scarlett was just due to recent stress and emotional instability. It had nothing to do with Elena.
---
Elena's POV
The car smelled like leather and snow.
We'd left the steakhouse just after eleven. Ethan had called the ride. Now the three of us sat squeezed in the back seat—me by the window, Lila in the middle, Ethan on the other side.
"So." Ethan broke the silence first, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. "I accepted Caleb's offer. I'm joining the team Monday."
Lila straightened so fast she nearly elbowed me in the ribs. "Wait, seriously? You're doing it?"
"Yeah." Ethan pushed his glasses up. "The salary's only sixty percent of market rate, but I get full technical autonomy and equity."
"That's amazing!" Lila was practically bouncing in her seat. "How big is the team? What's the project focus? What's the—"
"Lila." Ethan's voice was dry. "Breathe."
She laughed, then grabbed my arm. "Elena, you should join too! We could all work together!"
My stomach dropped. I'd been staring out the window, trying not to think about Caleb's question.
"I... I'm still thinking about it," I managed.
Ethan glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Caleb mentioned needing someone with cross-cultural language expertise. Elena, your linguistics background is pretty rare."
It wasn't a push. Just a statement.
"I just need time," I said quietly.
Lila squeezed my hand. But she didn't push either.
The car turned onto the main road leading to campus. Snow was coming down harder now, blanketing everything in white.
"Okay, but can we talk about tonight?" Lila leaned closer, lowering her voice even though Ethan was right there. "Because I noticed some things."
I tensed. "What things?"
"You. Those two guys. Hector and Caleb." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "There's something going on there."
"There's nothing—"
"Elena." She cut me off. "I saw how Caleb looked at you. Like you hung the damn moon or something."
Heat flooded my face. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" She grinned. "Because Hector kept watching you two all night. And that video—"
"Lila, drop it," I muttered.
"Nope." She poked my side—right where she knew I was ticklish. "Not until you tell me what's really going on."
"Stop!" I squirmed away, pressing against the window. "There's nothing to tell!"
"Liar." She poked me again.
"Ethan!" I looked to the front seat desperately. "Help!"
He didn't even turn around. "Not getting involved."
"But she's—"
"I don't take sides in matters of the heart." His voice was completely deadpan. "That's not in my skill set."
Lila laughed so hard she snorted. "Oh my God, you sound like a robot."
"I prefer 'emotionally efficient.'"
Even I cracked a smile at that. But Lila wasn't done.
"Fine, don't tell me." She crossed her arms, pretending to pout. "But I know what I saw. And for the record? I think you should go for it."
"Go for what?" My voice came out too high.
"Whichever one makes you look like that." She gestured at my face. "All flushed and flustered. Because it sure as hell isn't Damon."
The car fell silent.
Ethan cleared his throat. "We're almost there."
I'd never been more grateful for anything in my life.
---
Back in the dorm room, Lila fell asleep quickly. Her soft snores filled the darkness.
I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. The clock on my phone read 1:17 AM.
Every single time... you pick him. Right?
Caleb's words circled in my head like vultures.
He was right. Every time. Every single time I'd been forced to choose between doing what was right and doing what was safe, I'd chosen safe. I'd chosen Damon. Chosen the path that wouldn't make waves.
I'd chosen to be a coward.
"Whatever you choose—make sure it's worth it."
Worth it. Was any of this worth it?
I rolled onto my side, pulling the blanket tighter.
Then a memory hit me. So vivid it stole my breath.