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Hearts Between the Lines is a slow-burn, emotional young adult romance that follows Talia, a fiercely independent, party-loving medical student with few close connections, and Ezra, a kind, soft-spoken, nerdy classmate who prefers books over bars. When a random lab pairing throws them together, their clashing personalities spark unexpected chemistry—and eventually, love.

But after a night of vulnerability and a drunken mistake, Ezra ghosts Talia, and the fragile relationship between them shatters. What follows is a journey of miscommunication, self-discovery, and a gradual rebuilding of trust. Through late-night calls, unsent letters, failed kisses, and second chances, Talia and Ezra slowly learn that love isn’t just about the sparks—it’s about the quiet moments, the forgiveness, and the courage to choose each other every day, no matter how imperfect the timing.

A story about healing, growing up, and finding home in another person—Hearts Between the Lines is raw, messy, and utterly real.

Hearts Between the Lines

The first few hours after Ezra's return felt surreal.

They walked aimlessly through campus, hands intertwined, stopping only for bad coffee and soft laughter. The tension that had hung like fog around them had cleared—but in its place was a heavy undercurrent of something else.

Time apart hadn't dulled it. It had sharpened it. Tempered it into something neither of them could quite articulate. And when they went back to their apartment that evening, they both knew what it meant.

Ezra's hand on the small of her back as she led him inside. Her fingers unbuttoning his shirt with a reverence that made his breath stutter.

"I am," he murmured back, brushing his lips against hers.

They kissed like they were remembering—like muscle memory. Each movement soft, then hungry. Her fingers slid beneath his shirt. His hands traced the outline of her waist. They had waited for this.

They stumbled toward the couch, shedding layers like promises they could finally keep. Talia climbed onto his lap, her breath hot against his neck. Ezra groaned softly when she kissed that spot just below his ear—the one she knew drove him insane.

A sharp, insistent bang on the front door.

Talia's body went rigid. "Seriously?"

Another knock. Louder this time. Followed by:

"Talia? You left your headlights on! Again! And your car alarm's going off!"

Ezra blinked, breathless. "Is that… a new neighbor?"

Talia groaned, dropping her forehead onto his bare shoulder. "That's Lucy. She's seventy. She bakes me banana bread and guilt-trips me like a full-time job."

She scrambled off his lap, tugging her shirt on backwards in her haste. "One second."

Ezra flopped back against the couch, eyes wide, still very much… affected. "Take your time," he called weakly.

By the time Talia came back, her hair was messy, her cheeks flushed—but not for the reasons either of them wanted.

"I'm so sorry," she huffed. "The alarm went off because I left the keys in the ignition. And the banana bread was a trap. She made me eat a slice before I could escape."

Ezra laughed—really laughed—for the first time in days.

Talia dropped onto the couch beside him. "We were so close."

He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We still are."

"But it's ruined now. The moment."

"Moments can wait," he said gently. "We don't have to rush this."

Talia sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I know. But I wanted you. Right then. With everything. And it felt like the universe was finally on our side. Until it wasn't."

Ezra kissed the top of her head. "The universe can be annoying. But we've got time now. You and me. All the time we didn't have before."

She smiled against his skin. "Still kinda mad about the banana bread, though."

He smirked. "Honestly, I'm kind of mad I didn't get any."

Talia laughed, pulling him down until they were tangled up on the couch, limbs knotted, hearts calm.

No fire. No urgency. Just quiet. Comfort. And the soft promise that almost would never be the end of their story.

Almost