"Ray, it's really not—" I started, already feeling the argument slipping out of my hands.
"It matters more than you're letting on, and you know it." Her voice softened, just slightly, though the resolve behind it didn't waver. "I care about you, Chloe. That's why I can't let you brush this off like it doesn't matter. If a worse thing had happened out there, if you hadn't made it back at all, I'd never forgive myself for staying quiet just because you asked me to."
But she was already moving, gathering her skirts and breaking into a near run toward the east wing before I could finish the sentence, calling over her shoulder that she'd send someone to help me clean up. I stood alone in the entryway, too tired to chase after her, and let my shoulders finally drop now that there was nobody le
