Page 272 of No Need to Run
A wistful smile touches my lips. “I was wrong.”
He tilts his head, watching me.
“We almost collided,” I say. “In the hospital.”
His expression tightens as he tries to follow.
“You caught me before I fell.”
His eyes search mine.
“I apologized. You said it was okay,” I add. “Automatically. Like you didn’t even think about it.”
A flicker of recognition dawns on his face.
“I was with someone,” he says slowly. “Julia.”
“Yes.” My tone cools just slightly. “She was impatient.”
His jaw tightens. He remembers that part.
“She told you to hurry,” I continue. “Said you needed to go see her mother.”
His gaze drops for a second, then moves back to mine.
“And you left.” My tone isn’t accusing. Just factual.
“Only this time, you looked back.”
The silence stretches.
"Like you didn't want to go."
His throat moves. “I didn’t… know you then,” he says.
“I know.”
I step closer again. Just enough to pull him back into me.
“That’s when I decided to follow you.”
The words land quietly.
His eyes sharpen. Realization dawns on his face.
“And that’s when it began,” I say softly. “It was fate.”
He stares at me, trying to process what I’m saying.
“I followed you to your hotel. Stood outside and waited.” I say, remembering that day vividly. “You came back out a few minutes later. Walked to the store.”
His expression shifts. His brows draw in confusion.
“You went inside to buy toothpaste.”
Recognition hits harder this time.
“Oh my god,” he mutters.
