And yet…
Even with all that closeness—something remained just out of reach.
“You okay?” Lennox asked under his breath, close enough that only I could hear.
I nodded, eyes on my plate. “Yeah.”
But I wasn’t sure that was true.
Because while everyone else had relaxed into him, while the other instructors had begun including him in planning and the guests whispered about his sunrise meditations like they were sacred scripture… I still felt it.
Thatspacebetween us.
He gave so much. Presence. Care. Time. But not history. Not the messy middle. Not the why. The question pulsed under my skin.
Why are you really here?
I didn’t ask. Instead, I buttered a vegan biscuit and tried not to stare at the curve of his fingers or the warm amber in his eyes when the light hit them just right. He caught me anyway.
“What?” he asked, amused.
I shrugged, chewing. “You just have a way.”
“With what?”
“With everything.” And then to lighten the moment, I added, “A way with me. With your mouth….everything.”
Tasha looked up, zeroing in on our conversation. “Wait,whatkind of conversation is happening over there?”
“None of your business,” I said quickly.
Lennox grinned. “She’s teasing me.”
“I’m studying you,” I corrected.
That made Selena lift her brow. “We’ve all been doing that.”
He turned to her, chuckling. “Still haven’t figured me out?”
“Not even close,” she said. “But that’s half the fun.”
I smiled, but something about her words stayed with me.
Because fun was part of it. ButIwasn’t doing this for fun.
Not entirely.
There was something about the way he listened. The way he held silence like it was a thing with weight. The way he made me feel like the version of myself I used to chase but could never quite catch.
And yet… he was still a question I didn’t know how to ask.
“Lennox,” Tasha said, pointing her fork. “Are you ever gonna cook for us or nah?”
“I already brew the tea and the coffee,” he replied.
Selena nodded. “He’s got us addicted.”
Tasha rolled her eyes. “Okay, but I want proof you can cook. A man that fine has to feed somebody.”
