*Lucas*

The sting of rejection was immediate, sharp. It burrowed deep, and I struggled to keep my face neutral, though my insides twisted painfully. "More time," I echoed, trying to mask the hurt with a shrug. "Sure, I get it."

But I didn’t, not really. We’d danced around each other for weeks, and I thought... No, it didn't matter what I thought. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and looked away from her. I wanted to go back to before. Before I had spoken. Before ...