His gaze softened for the briefest moment, almost tender, and she realized he wasn’t just talking about that night. He meant everything. She felt seen in a way that was thrilling and terrifying all at once.

“I see you,” he said finally, voice low, deliberate. “The real you. The part you try to hide.”

The words made her shiver. She wanted to say something back, to tell him the same, but she couldn’t find the words. Instead, she let her hand brush against his arm, tentative but ...