Merlina watched Craig's hand gripping the drink like it might be the only thing holding him together.
He was all tight muscles and tension, not quite meeting her eyes as he took a fast, almost frantic sip, like he was trying to drown something in the alcohol.
"I already got one," he muttered, his voice distant, distracted, as if her words hadn't fully registered.
Without thinking, she reached into her purse. "Oh. Okay… Can I at least cover the cost? I'm sorry you had to go through all that trouble."
She stretched her hand out, cash between her fingers. But the look on Craig's face stopped her. Confusion first, then something sharper, like he was silently asking: Do you know who the hell I am?
There was a hint of arrogance in his eyes that made her wonder if she had crossed some invisible line.
"Keep it," he snapped, tone sharp. "You need it more than I do."
The words stung more than she expected. She wasn't sure if it was meant as an insult or just poorly timed, but something twisted inside her chest. She forced a tight smile, silence thickened around them.
Across the bar, Keith and Phoebe were still deep in conversation, oblivious to the tension at the table. But Megan caught on immediately. She flashed a sweet smile, like it was any other night.
"I think I'll meet up with my brother," Megan said, already grabbing her purse. "See you guys later."
Keith stood as well, still holding Phoebe's hand. "We'll be back in a minute."
Phoebe shot Merlina a soft, reassuring look that said hang in there.
"Don't leave," she added, even though leaving felt like the one thing Merlina should be doing.
The door shut behind them, and suddenly Craig and Merlina were alone in a thick, uncomfortable quiet.
The restaurant felt quieter somehow, emptier. Craig pushed his food around his plate like it offended him. Merlina shifted in her seat, unsure what to say, but the apology slipped out anyway.
"Again, I'm sorry," she said softly. "You don't have to be so… angry about it."
His eyes flicked up, unreadable, but his voice was pure ice.
"Who said I'm angry?"
She sighed, careful not to push too hard. "You're… kinda giving off the vibe. Your face is practically screaming mad. Did I do more than ripping your precious handbook?"
A dry, almost bitter chuckle slipped from his lips.
"Well, what's worse than damaging the book of someone who practically made you write your test?"
Silence pooled again, heavy and full of things unspoken. Craig took another long drink, hiding whatever emotion flickered behind his eyes.
Her gaze drifted toward the window. She was suddenly far away in her own mind, stuck between wanting to fix this and knowing she didn't have to try.
Then his voice cut through the quiet, softer this time. "It's just… I didn't expect you to be so… persistent."
She blinked, startled by the shift. "Persistent?"
A faint grin tugged at his lips, easing a bit of the tension. "You're apologizing like you owe me the world. It's just a damn handbook."
A surprised laugh escaped her, lightening the moment, though the awkwardness still hovered.
"You know what?" he said, tone light but eyes sharp. "You can make it up to me."
She raised an eyebrow warily. "It's not gonna cost me my life, right?"
He chuckled, low and rough, and for a moment everything else faded.
"Can't promise."
She leaned into the banter. "Well, anything to stop you from giving me an attitude."
Craig leaned back, studying her closely, gaze narrowing. "An attitude? You've accused me of a lot tonight, Merlina."
The moment her name left his mouth, something in his expression shifted-too quick, too subtle, but she caught it.
Regret.
Not because he said anything wrong.
But because it sounded... personal.
He hadn't meant for it to come out like that. She could see it in the small shift of his jaw, the faint tension in his shoulders, like he wished he could take the word back and put a colder distance between them again.
Craig Lesnar didn't say people's names, gently like that. He didn't give people that kind of access. And yet here he was, leaning into this conversation like he didn't even recognize himself.
She lifted her chin. "Am I wrong?"
Craig didn't respond. For a heartbeat, the whole restaurant seemed to shrink to just the two of them.
Keith's phone buzzed loudly. Merlina reached for it instinctively, but Craig got there first. Their fingers brushed, longer than anything accidental had the right to be. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she pulled back quickly.
Craig lifted the phone, casual on the surface, but tension tightened his shoulders. "Keith. So forgetful."
"They've been gone a while," Merlina said, eager to break the moment. "I should probably head back."
Craig nodded and stood to get the bill. "Sure."
Outside, the warm night air wrapped around them. Craig walked like nothing bothered him. Merlina felt every pair of eyes as they passed.
A group of students lingered near the exit, whispering.
"That's Craig Lesnar."
"Who's she?"
The buzz spread quickly. Merlina pretended not to hear it, but every glance made her want to shrink. She tucked hair behind her ear, trying to stay small.
"Enjoying Belford?" Craig asked, voice softer.
His tone surprised her. "It's not hell," she admitted.
He chuckled, and a rare, shy smile flickered over his face. It vanished almost immediately, as if he regretted letting it show, again.
She couldn't resist teasing. "Oh… he smiles."
Craig shot her a look that sent a flutter through her chest. She turned away too quickly.
"Honestly," she said, looking at the sidewalk, "it's warmer than I expected. Everyone's been nice since I got here. Well… except you."
"Me?" he asked, like the thought honestly hadn't occurred to him.
"Yeah. You've been cold. Shut off. Is that just with me, or is it everyone?"
Craig didn't answer right away. Her question caught him, more than he wanted it to.
For a moment, his eyes shifted away, as if he needed a second to figure out why she was cutting straight through him like that… and why he couldn't seem to stop her. He looked almost thrown, like he hadn't prepared for this kind of honesty.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, unguarded in a way he didn't intend.
"Believe it or not, I'm actually nicer to you."
Merlina's breath stalled. He didn't say it as a joke. He said it like she mattered. She looked at him, thinking of a response, one that didn't expose the flutters in her chest.
"So…this…ice king mode is your version of nice?" she teased weakly.
His quiet laugh was real in a way that caught her off guard.
"Why are your walls so high?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Again, he didn't answer at first. His eyes drifted somewhere far beyond her.
It kept happening tonight…these strange, quiet pauses she pulled out of him.
She asked things no one else dared to, questions that made him actually think deeply before speaking.
Made him reflect.
Made him hesitate.
And he was letting her.
"It just helps drown out the noise," he said finally, his voice low.
The simplicity of his answer struck her. She watched him carefully, sensing how many layers he hid behind that tough exterior.
They wandered into a small park, the city noise fading into something gentler.
"You've got the spotlight, I see." she said. "Felt like every pair of eyes was on me. Pretty sure it had everything to do with you."
Craig shrugged. "Welcome to Belford."
"Honestly…if it were up to me," she said, "I wouldn't even be here. In Belford."
"Where would you rather be?" he asked, teasing.
"NYC. With my best friend."
He smirked. "Ah. So Phoebe's not the best friend? Nice."
He extended his palm for a cheeky high-five. She slapped it lightly, their fingers grazing and almost intertwining for a heartbeat longer than necessary before Craig jerked his hand back the moment he registered warmth.
"What's your deal with Phoebe?" Merlina blurted out right away, the words tumbling over each other to smother the awkwardness. "She seems to rub you the wrong way."
Craig chuckled. "Phoebe's just…a lot. Volume turned up to eleven all time. I guess I'm surprised you two click."
"Maybe we balance each other out."
"If you say so. But ditch Phoebe, stick with Megan. She's more your speed."
Merlina laughed under her breath. "You're a real piece of work. Tell me, do they offer remedial kindness classes in Belford? Because sign yourself up."
A smirk tugged his lips, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
She bumped his shoulder lightly, realizing how close they'd been walking. "Didn't think you'd walk me this far. Thought you'd vanish like last time."
Craig glanced sideways, expression subtle but different. "Yeah, well… you looked like you could use the company."
Her breath caught. That almost sounded like he cared.
"Don't get used to it," he added with a smirk.
They turned a corner. Merlina drifted too close to the street—just as a motorcycle tore past, too fast to notice until it was nearly on her.
Craig's arm shot out, grabbing her waist and pulling her back with a sudden, urgent force. She collided against his chest, his arms locking around her instinctively.
Her hands clutched his shirt, breath stolen. His hand stayed firm at her waist, grounding her.
Their faces were inches apart—close enough for her to see the flecks of green in his eyes.
He didn't let go. She didn't step back.
"You alright?" he asked, voice low, rough.
"Yeah…" she breathed. "I just didn't see it coming."
Neither moved.
He looked at her like nothing else made sense.
"You should be more careful," he said, soft but heavy.
Her heart pounded so loudly she swore he could hear it.
You should stop looking at me like that, she wanted to say.
But she stayed exactly where she was. And so did he.
The world went quiet around them, like it paused.
Then he leaned in—
Too close.
"Unless," he murmured, eyes locked on hers, "you have a thing for danger."