It was easy.
Jace kept talking. “You know what’s funny?”
“No.”
“You’ve been ignoring her for three days.”
“I haven’t.”
“And now you’re watching her like you’re about to lose something.”
I stopped walking.
Just slightly.
Not enough to be obvious.
But enough that Jace noticed.
“Keep moving,” I said.
He laughed under his breath. “Yeah, sure.”
We kept going.
But I wasn’t listening anymore.
Because Rowan shifted slightly toward Caleb again.
And something in my head went quiet in a way I didn’t like.
Not calm.
Not peace.
Just… focus narrowing.
Too much focus.
“Reed,” Jace said, lowering his voice now. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what.”
“Don’t turn this into a thing.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know what “this” even was yet.
Later that night, I was alone in my apartment.
Too quiet again.
Phone on the table.
Buzzing occasionally like it had opinions.
I didn’t touch it.
