AVELA’S POV
I didn’t answer him.
I couldn’t.
Not when my heart was beating like it wanted to tear out of my chest. Not when his eyes were on me like I was the only thing holding his entire world together.
Lucas stood there on the sand, waiting…actually waiting like his next breath depended on what I was going to say.
But I couldn’t get a single word out.
So instead of answering, I did the only thing my body allowed me to do—I stepped closer. Slow. Careful. Afraid that if I moved too fast, the moment would break and disappear.
His eyes softened the second I approached. He lifted his hands and gently cupped my cheeks like I was something delicate he didn’t want to break.
“You don’t have to answer now, Avela,” he whispered. His thumb brushed once across my skin, warm and comforting. “
