Doesn’t try to.
Because now he understands.
“You don’t get to decide that,” he says, but there’s less confidence in it.
“I do.”
“And why is that?”
I tilt my head slightly, studying him the way I study anything that crosses into my territory uninvited.
“Because you’re standing on my land.”
“And?”
“And you’re touching something that doesn’t belong to you.”
His eyes narrow.
“And you think she belongs to you?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Silence drops.
Behind me, I feel Maddie go still.
I don’t look at her.
I don’t break eye contact.
Because this isn’t about her right now.
This is about him.
“You don’t know her,” he says.
“I know enough.”
“You don’t understand what she needs.”
“I understand what you are.”
That lands harder than anything else.
His smile disappears completely now.
“And what’s that?” he asks.
I step closer again, my voice dropping with it.
“A problem.”
He scoffs, but it’s weaker now. “You think you can just show up and?—”
“I didn’t show up,” I cut in. “You did.”
“And I’m not leaving.”
