Elena's POV

Thursday morning felt lighter than it should have. Three days after everything we’d said in that car, things between us were… steadier.

“So I was thinking we could do dinner on Sunday, maybe that Italian place you like?"

I glanced over at Damien as we sat in his car, driving to work. His hand rested over mine on the console, as my thumb traced absent circles on his skin.

"For your birthday?" I added.

"It's not a big deal," he said, but I could see the small smile tugging ...