The way I let him.
Nope.
No.
Absolutely not.
I open my eyes.
And he’s already looking at me.
Of course he is.
He’s always looking.
Always seeing more than he should.
“This is exactly why,” I mutter.
“Why what?” he asks softly.
I shouldn’t answer.
I really shouldn’t.
Instead—
“This,” I whisper, gesturing slightly between us, which is ridiculous because there is no space between us. “This is why you should’ve stayed out of it.”
His gaze drops.
Just for a second.
To my mouth.
Then back to my eyes.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Dangerous.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “That’s not going to happen.”
My pulse stutters.
Traitor.
I should push him away.
I should create space.
I should remember that people are trying to kill me, and he just made himself a target.
Instead—
I stay exactly where I am.
