A Love Forgotten (Arianna and Elijah)

Chapter 76

When he arrived, the living room was shrouded in a soft, muted light. Only the warm glow of a single floor lamp illuminated the space, casting long shadows across the room.

I stood by the large window, my eyes unfocused, watching the cars and people blur together in the rain-soaked streets below.

Outside, the rain fell in a steady rhythm, a soft patter against the glass, matching the quietness inside.

I heard footsteps behind me, slow and deliberate.

"Why are you still awake at this time?" His voice was so familiar, yet it sounded colder than the rainy night outside.

Through the reflection in the glass, I could see Logan standing just a few feet behind me. In the window's faint reflection, our figures overlapped, as if we were two lovers, drawn together in an embrace.

I turned around and met his gaze. "Can you do me a favor, Logan?"

My straightforwardness took him by surprise. I handed him the invitation, and his brows furrowed. "How did you get this?"

I briefly explained how Jocelyn had come by. For a brief moment, Logan's expression turned icy. He must have been angered by the fact that Elijah had someone tailing me.

However, his voice was calm when he spoke. "You want me to be your date?"

I nodded. In response, Logan took the invitation, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "I'll think about it. It's late, you should get some rest."

I hesitated but asked, "Do you think I shouldn't go?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to go?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. Jocelyn made some valid points, but I feel like if I go, I'll just be walking into a situation where I'll humiliate myself. There'll be a lot of judgmental eyes on me." Logan's lips curled into a soft, knowing smile.

It was the kind of smile that could make even the darkest night feel warm like the gentle glow of the moon breaking through clouds after a storm. Something was calming about it, something that made the rain outside seem distant. I couldn't help but be mesmerized as I stared at him.

Logan asked, "Do you like the flowers?"

I nodded. "Yes. I loved them."

His smile deepened. "I'm glad to hear that."

He glanced down at his watch before gently reaching for my hand. With a tenderness that caught me off guard, he pressed his lips to the back of my hand, his kiss soft and gentle, like a raindrop. "Goodnight, Ari,"

My hand trembled slightly under his touch. When he lifted his hand, our eyes met. At that moment, the entire cityscape outside the window seemed to be reflected in his eyes. I was dazed.

His hand tightened around mine, his gaze growing deeper. We both knew what we were waiting for, but there was an invisible barrier keeping us apart.

Chapter 76

He leaned in, and I instinctively stepped back. My back was pressed against the cold glass of the window, my body feeling unnaturally warm, my palms sweating. Logan's gaze shifted to my lips as he slowly. leaned down. In a panic, I lowered my head. My voice was barely a whisper as I said, "We can't... This isn't right."

He stopped. And for a moment, I regretted it-regretted the weakness in me, the confusion I couldn't shake. Did I still care for Elijah? Was that why I couldn't let Logan in?

Logan chuckled softly. "It's okay, Ari. I understand. I won't make things difficult for you."

He gently leaned down once more, this time pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. And then, without another word, he turned and left.

I sat by the window, dazed, reaching up to touch the spot where his kiss had long since disappeared. My heart began to ripple once again.