His eyes flicked over me like he was peering right through my excuses. A quiet, knowing pause stretched between us before he finally spoke. “Surely you're not hiding in this room for their sake, right?“

I blinked at him at his tone. He'd become too serious too fast. I clenched my jaw, looking away. My fingers itched so I gently played with my fingertips. “I’m not hiding.”

His boots thumped closer and I looked right at him as he stood next to the bed. “Come then,” he challenged ...