Chapter 100

ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW

Luke had changed a lot from what I remembered.

It wasn't just the clothes—though that was the first thing I noticed. The clean, sharp lines of his button-up shirt, the subtle cologne that lingered when he passed me, the effortless way his dark jeans complemented his frame. His hair, once messy and neglected, was now tousled just enough to look intentional. Even the way he stood had evolved—from slightly hunched and quiet, to something more assured, more grounded.

But underneath the polished exterior, I could still feel his core. His confidence had matured, but the softness in his eyes hadn't changed. The way he looked at me earlier while Brynn spoke—almost begging me to make it stop—was exactly the Luke I remembered.

He was still introverted. Still silently observant. But he moved around us with ease now, like he had finally figured out how to be comfortable with the noise we brought into his life—yes, even Brynn.