Updated Apr 8, 2026 • ~2 min read
Chapter 16: Seven Months
Sienna
They meet one last time.
A park. Neutral. Public. Safe.
“We have to set ground rules,” Sienna says.
“I know.”
They sit on a bench, careful not to touch.
“No more secret meetings,” she starts.
“Agreed.”
“No more late-night calls.”
“Agreed.”
“Only school-required communication. Emails about Harper. Pick-up conversations.”
“That’s it? For seven months?”
“That’s it.”
Jace runs his hands over his face. “This is torture.”
“I know. But if this is REAL—if what we have is worth it—we can wait.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then maybe it’s not as real as we thought.”
He looks at her, and his eyes are SO blue. So full of feeling.
“It’s real, Sienna. It’s the most real thing I’ve felt in three years.”
“Then we wait. We be patient. We put Harper first.”
“And in June?”
“In June, she’s not my student anymore. And we can figure out what this is.”
“It’s love. You know that, right?”
Her breath catches. “Jace—”
“I’m in love with you. I have been since the coffee shop. And waiting seven months won’t change that.”
Tears spill down her cheeks. “I love you too. Which is why this is so hard.”
“But we’re doing it anyway.”
“Yes.”
He reaches for her hand—just for a second—squeezes it, lets go.
“Seven months,” he says.
“Seven months.”
They stand. Walk to their separate cars.
Don’t look back.
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