The car ride felt longer than it actually was. And it was not because of traffic, or the distance, but because of the silence.
Ryan sat beside Sylvie, with his posture controlled and his expression unreadable, trying, almost aggressively to be himself. The version of himself that existed before emotions came to complicate things.
He kept his gaze forward with his hands relaxed. Inside, however, he was hyperaware of everything.
The faint scent of her perfume. The way the streetlights briefly illuminated her profile as they passed. The soft rustle of fabric when she shifted slightly in her seat.
He told himself to focus.
Sylvie, on the other hand, stared out the window, watching the city change as they moved deeper into the nightlife district. Neon lights replaced office buildings. Mus
