Hycinth

Even as I chatted with Gwen, my attention was never far from Leander. He and Ever stood off to the side, silently watching the activity around us.

However, about ten minutes later, he walked away, without even a word to me.

My heart twisted.

I'd rejected him again. I shouldn't expect anything than his rebuff, but still, it hurt. I wrapped my arms around my middle, trying to hold myself together. Abruptly, Gwen squeezed my knee. I looked up to find her brown eyes soft, silently trying to give me strength, but there was pain in her expression as well.

For the first time, I wondered if it wouldn't...