That was becoming the pattern now.
Not eyes.
Awareness.
“Do you always avoid things you don’t understand?” I asked.
That made him turn fully this time.
Finally.
He leaned back slightly against the wall nearthe window.
Arms crossed.
“No,” he said.
“What do you do then?”
“I figure them out.”
“And this?” I asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation again.
Longer this time.
Then:
“I’m not sure this is something you figure out fast.”
That landed differently.
Because it wasn’t denial.
It wasn’t deflection.
It was recognition.
And I didn’t like how much that changed the room.
Mason
She was watching me differently now.
Not challenging.
Not teasing.
Just… aware.
Like she was starting to realise I wasn’t either.
I pushed off the wall slightly.
Walked toward the desk.
