ARIA
The silence in the car is suffocating.
Then Declan exhales slowly beside me, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.
"I apologize," he says, his voice quieter now. Almost gentle. "That was out of line. I shouldn't have asked."
I stare straight ahead, my jaw clenched so tight it aches.
"It's just..." He pauses, and I hear him shift again, like he's searching for the right words. "You remind me of someone I used to know. The way you carry yourself, the way you move. I acted on impulse, and that was wrong. I'm sorry."
My heart slams against my ribs so hard I'm sure he can hear it.
Someone he used to know.
"It's fine," I say flatly. "Don't worry about it."
Three words. Short. Final. I turn my face toward the window, making it clear the conversation is over.
But under
