#Chapter 65: A Letter

Alexander POV I gasped in surprise as Ella put her arms around me. I hadn’t expected it. I thought she'd call my bluff, put her hands out and push me away, or pull back in some way. But instead, her big, dark eyes had closed with anticipation. The soft press of her lips against mine, the warmth of her arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer—it was too much. A mistake. Gently, and with more reluctance than I cared to admit, I pulled away from the kiss. Ella’s hazy eyes blinked open, staring at me with a mix of confusion and something else—something softer. I stepped out of her embrace, bending to retrieve the ridiculous plush bunny that had fallen to the ground. I brushed off the dirt carefully before handing it back to her. She took it with both arms, crushing it against her chest, her expression full of embarrassment and confusion. "What was that?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm. "Acting," I replied, though my voice sounded strange