The silence after Liam’s refusal didn’t feel empty.
It felt listening.
Denise stayed still beside him, her eyes fixed on the treeline. Whatever had spoken from the forest had not repeated itself, but its absence felt heavier than its voice.
Liam didn’t relax.
If anything, his stillness sharpened.
Denise glanced at him. “You said no.”
“Yes,” he replied.
“That sounded final.”
“It was.”
Another pause.
Then Denise asked quietly, “What happens when you say no to them?”
Liam’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Depends on how attached they are to the outcome.”
Denise frowned. “And how attached are they?”
Liam finally looked at her.
“Enough to send a second wave,” he said.
Denise exhaled slowly. “There’s always a second wave with you, isn’t there?”
A faint, almost humorless flicker crossed
