MAYA

The night air in the forest was cold enough to bite, but I barely felt it. My own thoughts were gnawing at me far worse.

“Idiot,” I muttered under my breath, pacing along the narrow path between the trees. “Utter, reckless idiot.” No other name would have fit me at that point. I had made a stupid mistake. An idiotic one.

I should’ve walked away the moment Noah’s lips touched mine. I should’ve shoved him back, thrown a sharp word in his face, and left him standing there to puzzle over my absence. But no—I’d stayed.

And for what?

Because he’d smiled that lazy, knowing smile and said my...