Maeve’s POV.
I didn’t move until he did.
Aaron had been quiet all evening, but I could feel him. Every time I thought I was breathing normally, his presence pressed against my chest, close enough that it felt like part of me was on alert, part of me wanted to lean in. I was standing just inside the main hall, pretending to sip water, pretending not to notice how tight my muscles had gotten after the night’s chaos.
When he finally came to me, it wasn’t fast. Not a rush. Just deliberate, calm, and too aware. My stomach pitched before my brain could catch up. I wanted to step back. I wanted space. I didn’t need him. I didn’t. But my body betrayed me anyway.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said first. Not a whisper. Not a demand. Flat. Firm.
“I’m here,” he said. Simple. Calm. Factual. No arro
