-ARIA-
"Move? I don’t understand. I already have a home." I blinked once, twice, and then a third time.
My brain was still rebooting, apparently, because I was definitely not catching up.
"You live in a crappy building with a broken elevator. Your neighbors are junkies, and your f*****g door doesn’t even have a proper lock. A twelve‑year‑old could break that thing with a toothpick."
His hand cut through the air like he was presenting evidence. His frame seemed to grow larger, his tone sharper.
"The water is rusty, there’s no proper heating, and I’m eighty percent sure there’s lead in the wall paint." His lips pressed into a hard line, green eyes so dark they almost looked black. "Rats don’t call this place home."
"You’re overreacting."
He wasn't. Every word was true. He just hadn't
