Page 66 of Ashen Souls

“In the café. We talked. We walked. We had dinner.”

She pointed at me like I’d just confessed to a felony.

“You had a date.”

“It wasn’t a date.”

“You ate food with him after sunset. That’s a date.”

“We talked about mythology.”

“Foreplay.”

I laughed, swatting her knee. “We walked through the park. We talked about family. Books. Life. It was… easy.”

“Easy how?”

“Like I didn’t have to be anything other than myself,” I said. “Like he actually listened.”

“And?” she pressed.

“And then he walked me home,” I finished. “And nothing happened.”

She froze. “Nothing at all?”

“No kiss. No lingering. He thanked me for the company and wished me good night.”

Harper sank back, processing. “Huh.”

I picked at the blanket. “I didn’t expect anything. I really didn’t. But still.”

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Still.”

She watched me for a few seconds, something thoughtful flickering across her face.

“God, Aves. You’re doomed. Sexy professor by day, ridiculously hot demon by night. Honestly, I’d watch that Netflix show.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You make it sound like I’m living in some kind of fanfiction.”

“Aren’t you?”

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.

She caught it easily, looking smug. She rolled off the bed and crossed the room, digging through her bag before holding up two small packets like she’d just drawn weapons.

“Here’s the thing,” she said, already tearing one open. “You crave passion. That’s not a crime. It just means you can’t settle for less.”

I rested my head against the headboard. “And what if no one can give me that?”

She turned back to me as she smeared green goo across her cheek.

“Then you keep looking. Or...” She tilted her head. “You let yourself be surprised. Sometimes passion shows up where you least expect it. Like… office hours.”

“Please stop making it sound illegal.”

She grinned. “I refuse.”

Harper tossed the second packet onto my lap. “Come on. Emergency skincare. You look like someone who made questionable emotional decisions.”