Maeve's POV.
I didn’t answer him right away.
Not because I didn’t hear him.
Not because I didn’t understand.
Because if I opened my mouth too fast, something ugly might come out. Or worse...something honest.
Aaron stood there watching me, like he was waiting for a verdict. Like everything he’d built his life on had just been placed in my hands and he didn’t know whether I’d drop it or not. That scared me more than anything Lila had said back there.
“I can’t,” I said finally.
It came out flat. Almost casual. Like I was talking about the weather or a bad road ahead.
His brows pulled together. “You can’t… what?”
“I can’t do this,” I said. I took a step back, needing space, needing air. “I can’t be what you’re asking.”
“I didn’t ask you for anything,” he said quickly. “I told you ho
