Chapter\u00a0530\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
\u201cEarth\u00a0to\u00a0Judy,\u201d\u00a0Lukas\u00a0said,\u00a0waving\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0keep\u00a0spacing\u00a0off.\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0blinked\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0times,\u00a0allowing\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0to\u00a0readjust\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0face.\u00a0I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0running\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0hair,\u00a0which\u00a0had\u00a0pulled<\/p>\n
free\u00a0from\u00a0its\u00a0binding\u00a0and\u00a0was now\u00a0scattered\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0books\u00a0that\u00a0were\u00a0laid\u00a0out\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u00a0We\u00a0were\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0usual\u00a0spot\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0the<\/p>\n
library,\u00a0our\u00a0noses\u00a0buried\u00a0deep\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0pages.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0Friday,\u00a0and\u00a0our\u00a0exams\u00a0officially\u00a0started\u00a0on\u00a0Monday,\u00a0so\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0get\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0our\u00a0study\u00a0session\u00a0together.\u00a0\u201cSorry,\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0thinking\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0day\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Grand\u00a0Casino\u00a0Hotel.\u00a0My\u00a0heart\u00a0still\u00a0ached\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0Rachel\u00a0and\u00a0Gavin<\/p>\n
together.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0might\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0frame\u00a0of\u00a0mind,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0Rachel\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0drawn\u00a0to.\u00a0It\u00a0was her\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0was<\/p>\n
thinking\u00a0about\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0kissed\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0wanted.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0let\u00a0myself\u00a0cry\u00a0that\u00a0night\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0home,\u00a0feeling\u00a0stupid\u00a0forever\u00a0thinking\u00a0that maybe\u00a0he\u00a0did\u00a0want\u00a0me\u00a0after\u00a0all.\u00a0But\u00a0since\u00a0that\u00a0night,\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0allowed\u00a0myself\u00a0to\u00a0cry\u00a0over\u00a0it\u00a0again.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0stronger\u00a0than\u00a0that;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0training\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0fucking\u00a0Gamma\u00a0warrior,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0offers\u00a0left\u00a0and\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0join\u00a0Elite\u00a0forces.\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0a\u00a0warrior,\u00a0and\u00a0no\u00a0man\u00a0will\u00a0ever\u00a0define\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
Still,\u00a0that\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0me\u00a0from\u00a0being\u00a0distracted\u00a0and\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0own\u00a0mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly,\u201d\u00a0Lukas\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed.\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0you want\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0it?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0knew\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0happened,\u00a0it\u00a0could\u00a0ruin\u00a0our\u00a0friendship.\u00a0If\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0thought\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0second\u00a0that\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0something\u00a0going\u00a0on\u00a0between\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0me,\u00a0he\u00a0wouldn\u2019t have\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0my\u00a0friend\u00a0anymore\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0fear\u00a0that\u00a0Gavin\u00a0would\u00a0try\u00a0something\u00a0and\u00a0ruin\u00a0his\u00a0scholarship.\u00a0Though\u00a0he\u00a0has\u00a0finals\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0school\u00a0next\u00a0week,\u00a0Lukas\u00a0still\u00a0has\u00a0another\u00a0year\u00a0of\u00a0college\u00a0to\u00a0attend.\u00a0He\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0his\u00a0nose\u00a0clean\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0scholarship\u00a0intact.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0sighed.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beta\u00a0Taylor\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0picking\u00a0me\u00a0up\u00a0shortly.\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0tutoring\u00a0with\u00a0Matt\u00a0this\u00a0evening,\u00a0so\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0likely that\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0waiting\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0with\u00a0Taylor.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0them\u00a0waiting.<\/p>\n
Lukas\u00a0also\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0and then\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0walk\u00a0you\u00a0out,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0packed\u00a0up\u00a0his\u00a0things.<\/p>\n
Once\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0packed\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0ready\u00a0to\u00a0leave,\u00a0we walked\u00a0in\u00a0silence\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0campus\u00a0and\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0parking\u00a0lot.\u00a0As\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0in\u00a0sight,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0Taylor\u2019s\u00a0waiting\u00a0car.\u00a0I\u00a0sighed,\u00a0bracing\u00a0myself\u00a0for\u00a0another\u00a0awkward\u00a0ride\u00a0home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0later,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0Lukas\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0walk\u00a0away,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0grabbed\u00a0my\u00a0arm\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0me\u00a0into\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0surprised\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0gesture\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0hugged\u00a0me\u00a0like\u00a0this\u00a0before,\u00a0but\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0arms\u00a0came\u00a0around\u00a0mine,\u00a0I\u00a0suddenly\u00a0felt\u00a0my\u00a0resolve\u00a0breaking\u00a0a\u00a0little.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0tears that\u00a0threatened\u00a0to\u00a0spill\u00a0down\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0I\u00a0closed\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0and\u00a0let\u00a0him\u00a0hug\u00a0me,<\/p>\n
his\u00a0tight\u00a0embrace\u00a0an\u00a0anchor\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0soul.<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0530<\/p>\n
+30\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0on\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0life,\u00a0Judy,\u00a0just\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0here\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0low\u00a0and\u00a0for\u00a0my<\/p>\n
ears\u00a0alone.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0listener.\u201d<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0coming\u00a0around\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0hug\u00a0him\u00a0back.\u00a0For\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0let\u00a0go.\u00a0It\u00a0wasn\u2019t romantic,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0the<\/p>\n
comfort\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0desperately\u00a0needed\u00a0at\u00a0that\u00a0moment.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0drowning\u00a0and\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0very\u00a0moment,\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0become\u00a0a\u00a0life\u00a0wraft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered\u00a0in\u00a0return.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0pulled\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0noticing\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0filling\u00a0with\u00a0tears.\u00a0He\u00a0wiped\u00a0away\u00a0the\u00a0invisible\u00a0tears\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0with\u00a0his thumb\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0smile,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0crinkling\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny\u00a0time,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cGood luck\u00a0on\u00a0your\u00a0finals\u00a0next\u00a0week.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0too.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0nodded\u00a0and\u00a0dropped\u00a0his\u00a0arms\u00a0from\u00a0my\u00a0shoulders.\u00a0With\u00a0a\u00a0final\u00a0wave,\u00a0he\u00a0turned and\u00a0headed\u00a0towards\u00a0his\u00a0car.\u00a0I\u00a0watched\u00a0him\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0turned\u00a0towards\u00a0Taylor\u2019s\u00a0waiting\u00a0car\u00a0and\u00a0got\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0backseat.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0was\u00a0surprised\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0Matt in\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0Matt?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u00a0was watching\u00a0me\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0curious\u00a0expression,\u00a0but\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0hint\u00a0of\u00a0something\u00a0else\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0A\u00a0worry\u00a0that\u00a0caused\u00a0my\u00a0stomach\u00a0to\u00a0twist.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0kept\u00a0going\u00a0back\u00a0and forth\u00a0between\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0Lukas\u2019s\u00a0car.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0realize\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0Lukas\u00a0Merriweather\u00a0were\u00a0so\u00a0close,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0having\u00a0a\u00a0hint\u00a0of\u00a0depth\u00a0in\u00a0it.\u00a01<\/p>\n
I\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0friend,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0concern.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFriends\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0hug\u00a0friends\u00a0like\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0Taylor\u00a0murmured.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0there\u00a0a\u00a0point\u00a0to\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0him,\u00a0raising\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0and\u00a0feeling my\u00a0defenses\u00a0rising.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0mean,\u00a0why\u00a0does\u00a0it\u00a0matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0matters\u00a0because\u00a0Gavin\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0warned\u00a0him\u00a0off.\u00a0If\u00a0he\u00a0found\u00a0out-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0he\u00a0found out,\u00a0then\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0snapped,\u00a0my\u00a0resolve\u00a0fading\u00a0even\u00a0more\u00a0as\u00a0my\u00a0emotions\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0leak\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0busy\u00a0with\u00a0another\u00a0woman,\u00a0so\u00a0why\u00a0does\u00a0it\u00a0matter\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0captured\u00a0the\u00a0attention\u00a0of\u00a0another\u00a0as\u00a0well?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
P<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 530 Chapter\u00a0530\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV \u201cEarth\u00a0to\u00a0Judy,\u201d\u00a0Lukas\u00a0said,\u00a0waving\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0keep\u00a0spacing\u00a0off.\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0okay?\u201d I\u00a0blinked\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0times,\u00a0allowing\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0to\u00a0readjust\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0face.\u00a0I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0running\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0hair,\u00a0which\u00a0had\u00a0pulled free\u00a0from\u00a0its\u00a0binding\u00a0and\u00a0was now\u00a0scattered\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0face. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21598\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}