Lauren sat frozen on the couch, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
Larry studied her for a long moment before silently reaching for a bottle of water on the table. He twisted off the cap and held it out to her.
Lauren blinked, barely processing the gesture. Her hands shook as she took it, fingers brushing his for a second.
The plastic felt cool against her skin, but she couldn’t bring herself to take a sip. Her throat was dry, tight, like she had forgotten how to swallow.
“Lauren,” Larry’s voice was softer now, careful, like he wasn’t sure if she was about to break.
She forced herself to look at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something raw, something vulnerable—that made her chest tighten even more.
Larry's words
