Not a question. A statement delivered in that same low, steady voice that left no room for argument.
"Oh, no, that's totally fine, I?—"
"I'm not asking."
The words landed between us—firm but not harsh. Final.
I bit my lip. Nodded. What else could I do?
He pushed off the wall and gestured toward the exit with one hand. Waited for me to move first.
I did. Slowly. Hyperaware of him falling into step beside me—silent, solid, too close and somehow not close enough.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
This is nothing. He's just being professional. Making sure staff gets to their cars safely. That's all.
Except it didn't feel like nothing. It felt like the air pressure changed when he moved. Like gravity shifted slightly in his direction.
We reached the door. He held it open without a word.
I slipped past him into the cold night air, keys clutched so tight they left impressions in my palm.
Rhys followed.
The parking lot stretched out under harsh yellow lights, mostly empty now except for scattered cars and the hum of distant traffic. Cold air bit through my jacket. I pulled it tighter.
Rhys walked beside me. Not quite next to me—half a step behind, like he'd calculated the exact distance that looked accidental.
Our footsteps echoed too loud against the pavement.
I didn't know what to say. Didn't know if I should say anything. Didn't know if he expected me to thank him for walking me out or if acknowledging it would make things weird.
Everything already felt weird.
Good weird. Terrifying weird.
I glanced sideways. He kept his gaze forward, hoodie still up, hands still shoved deep in his pockets. Expression unreadable in the sodium glow.
But he was still here.
That had to mean something.
Or maybe it didn't. Maybe he always walked employees to their cars. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe…
"Which one's yours?" His voice cut through my spiral.
I pointed toward the far corner. "The Honda. The… really beat-up one."
"I see it."
We kept walking.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable, exactly. Just heavy. Weighted with things neither of us knew how to say.
I wanted to ask him why he came to the café this morning. Why he scared off that rookie. Why he looked at me sometimes like he was seeing someone else.
I wanted to ask if he remembered.
