RYDER

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Aria asks after a moment of pure silence. She even tries to push me away. "Let me go!"

"Have you finally realized it yet?"

"Realized what?"

"That it would be hell if we went through with this?"

Her silence is a confirmation that she knows exactly what I'm implying, and for several seconds, she struggles to find an answer for me. "I...I don't understand what you mean. You mentioned...I'm here because you want to reject me!"

"Do I?"

Her eyes ...