The hospital rooftop was quiet. The hum of the city far below was a distant song, muffled by the cool night breeze. Stacy stepped onto the gravel surface hesitantly, her heart thudding harder than she wanted to admit.

  Kalil stood by the ledge, hands in his coat pockets, profile lit by the moon. His posture was still, controlled, but something about the way his jaw tensed screamed unsettled.

  She almost turned around.

  But he spoke before she could.

  “You came.”

  Stacy swallowed. “You asked.”

  He looked over his shoulder, eyes shadowed but searching. “How long were you going to avoid me?”

  “I wasn’t avoiding you,” she lied.

  His brow lifted, unimpressed. “Right.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  A pause. The air between them crackled with something—grief, tension… want.

  Stacy wrapped her arms around herself. “Why did you want to see me?”

  Kalil turned fully now, his eyes scanning her face with too much intensity. “I heard about the breakup.”

  She stiffened. “Of course you did.”

  “You okay?”

  She hated how his voice softened when he said that. Hated that it mattered. “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t smell fine.”

  Her head snapped up. “Excuse me?”

  Kalil’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t meant to say it. But the truth had slipped. And now he had to commit.

  “I notice things, Stacy,” he said slowly, walking toward her. “And whether you like it or not… I notice you.”

  She looked away, heat crawling up her neck.

  “You didn’t even like me,” she whispered.

  “I didn’t let myself,” he said, voice rough.

  That silenced her.

  He stood a breath away now, his energy overwhelming. “Do you know what it’s like to feel drawn to something you can’t have? Shouldn’t want? But every part of you aches for it?”

  Stacy’s lips parted. “Kalil…”

  His eyes darkened. “I don’t know what this is between us. But it’s been there since the day you walked into that elevator in your scrubs and wouldn’t look me in the eye.”

  She blinked up at him, chest tight. “Why now?”

  His voice dropped to a whisper. “Because I’m losing control.”

  The words fell between them like thunder.

  And then- he stepped back.

  Just like that.

  His mask returned. “You should get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long shift.”

  She stared at him, heart thudding.

  “You dragged me up here just to ask if I’m okay and mess with my head?”

  “I didn’t mean to mess with it,” he said quietly, eyes unreadable. “I meant to understand why mine’s already wrecked.”

  And with that, Kalil turned and walked back toward the rooftop exit.

  Leaving Stacy breathless. Confused. And for the first time—aware that this thing between them wasn’t just one-sided.

  It was dangerous.

  Real.

  And just beginning to unravel.