Ivy stood frozen, her lips pressed tight. Darius’s words still hung in the air, but she couldn’t answer him. Her throat felt locked, her heart beating too fast.He waited, watching her closely. For once, he wasn’t smiling, wasn’t teasing. He just wanted to hear her voice.

But Ivy said nothing.

Darius sighed, and then his playful grin returned, softer this time. “You don’t have to answer now. I’ll wait.” He opened the car door for her. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

She ...