ARIA
Ethan leads me away from the others, his hand gentle on my elbow. We stop near the edge of the road, far enough that his parents and the kids can't hear us.
"What did you want to talk about?" I ask, studying his face.
He's quiet for a moment, his jaw working like he's trying to find the right words. Then he looks at me directly, his brown eyes serious.
"I don't believe you."
I blink. "What?"
"When you say you're safe. That this is just work." He shakes his head slowly. "I know you don't lie, Aria. You never have. But that doesn't mean you've told us the whole truth."
My chest tightens. "Ethan—"
"I'm not asking you to explain," he says quickly. "I know you can't. Or won't. But I need you to know that I see it. I see that you're scared, and I see that you're going back to someth
