“Andrew?” I take a tentative step closer. “Are you alright? You don’t look like you’re very happy to see me.”

“No, no, I’m fine.” He forces a laugh that doesn’t sound genuine. “You just—You caught me by surprise. I never thought you’d actually...” He shakes his head. “Come here.”

He crosses the space between us and pulls me into his arms. The embrace is tight, almost desperate, but there’s something off about it. His body is tense, and I can feel his heart racing against my chest.

“I had to leave,” I say quietly against his shoulder, trying to recapture the comfort I used to feel in his presence. “Things...