Danielle POV
The tightness in my chest loosens all at once, the pressure easing enough for me to breathe again. He doesn’t know. He didn’t hear about the way I lost it. He didn’t hear how I hit the ground or screamed like I was back in the dark all over again.
“Right,” I say, nodding slowly. “That’s all it was.”
His gaze lingers on me for a beat longer than I can handle, and then he shifts forward, resting his elbows on the table.
“I was gonna ask you out,” he says, voice quieter now. “Take you somewhere decent for once. Not just drinks and a warm bed.” His mouth curves slightly. “But you ran.”
I lift my eyes to his. There’s something too real about the way he says it. No teasing this time. No smirk. Just honesty.
“You could’ve asked before I left,” I say softly, then regret it insta
