Elara
I told myself the first rule the moment Damian appeared in the hallway.
Act like I don't know him.
Not because I wanted to hurt him or pretend he didn't exist, but because there were too many eyes on us, and too many questions I didn't have the courage to answer. Whatever had happened between us before didn't belong here. Not in this place, not in this version of me standing under dim bar lights in clothes that felt like someone else's skin.
So when Damian stepped between me and Caleb, I forced my expression to stay neutral.
Like he was just another man in the room. Like my heart hadn't already betrayed me by reacting before I could stop it.
"I'm interested in her," Damian said.
The words landed cleanly, controlled, almost casual. But the room shifted anyway.
