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The second I break eye contact, she softens slightly.

“You really think something’s going to happen to me every time I step outside.”

Not a question.

I look back at her.

“Yeah.”

The answer comes rougher than I mean it to.

Nora swallows visibly.

“And that scares you.”

Another dangerous question.

I could lie.

Should lie.

Instead, “Yeah.”

Something shifts between us instantly.

Not softer.

Worse.

Because now she knows.

Now she knows this thing between us stopped being fake a while ago.

“You’re supposed to be the rational one,” she says quietly.

“I stopped being rational about you pretty early.”

Her lips part slightly.

Fuck.

I should stop talking.

I don’t.

“You matter too much already,” I admit, my voice lower now. Rougher. “That’s the problem.”

The words settle heavily into the room.

Nora goes completely still.

No sarcasm.

No argument.

Nothing.

Just those wide eyes locked onto mine while realization moves slowly across her face.