The house felt different after Victoria left.
Quieter.
But not in the calm way it had before.
Now it felt like something had been stirred beneath the surface—and was waiting.
I didn’t follow Max inside straight away.
I stayed out on the patio, letting the cool air settle my thoughts, trying to slow everything down.
But it wouldn’t slow.
Because now I knew.
Or at least… I knew enough to understand that I didn’t know enough.
And that was worse.
“You’re still out here.”
Max’s voice came from behind me.
I turned.
He’d changed—his jacket gone, sleeves rolled slightly, like he was trying to step out of whatever that conversation had been.
But it hadn’t worked.
Not completely.
“Just thinking,” I said.
“That can be dangerous.”
“So I’m starting to realise.”
A small pause.
Then h
