Page 149 of Dream On, Liar

And for a second—just a second—I thought she might break in a way I wouldn’t be able to fix.

But she didn’t.

She just held it tighter.

Then I reached into the bag one final time.

She frowned immediately. “What now?”

I handed her a thin book.

She looked at the cover.

Then at me.

101 Completely Unnecessary Facts About the World’s Strangest Animals

Her mouth fell open.

I couldn’t help it—I smiled. There was something dangerously rewarding about making her happy and knowing I was the one who put that expression on her face.

“You’re kidding.”

“You like random facts.”

“I do.”

“And we’ve got a long drive ahead of us. This way you can keep yourself distracted. Plus, if there’s anything that too interesting, now you’ve got your phone to help you look it up.”

She ran her thumb over the cover, slower now, like she was trying to understand why something so small had been chosen so carefully.

“This is… oddly specific.”

“I know.”

Her laugh came quieter this time.

Less forced.

More real.

It softened something in her face I hadn’t realised had been locked tight until it moved.

She opened the book.

Flipped a page.

Then another.

“Why animals?”

“I figured you needed something more cheerful than your bank statements.”

That got a proper look from her.

Not tired.

Not distant.