The drive home was quiet.
⸻
Not strained.
Not awkward.
⸻
Just… full.
⸻
The kind of silence that didn’t need filling.
⸻
Elara watched the city lights blur past the window, her reflection faint against the glass.
⸻
Aaron kept his eyes on the road.
⸻
But every now and then—
He glanced at her.
⸻
Like he was still trying to understand what had shifted between them.
⸻
Or maybe—
Afraid it might disappear.
⸻
⸻
When they got home—
Neither rushed to leave the space.
⸻
Elara stepped out first.
Aaron followed.
⸻
The night air lingered around them.
⸻
“You handled tonight well,” he said.
⸻
Elara turned slightly.
⸻
“You keep saying that.”
⸻
“Because it’s true.”
⸻
A pause.
⸻
She studied him.
⸻
“You didn’t look surprised,” she said.
⸻
Aaron exhaled lightly.
⸻
“
